Advances in Research

Aims: The  aim  of the  present study was  to detect  the level of three heavy metals cooper, zinc and lead in tissues of commercial fish species  anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in  six regions  of Crimean coastal waters (Black Sea and  Azov  Sea),  and to compare them with  the values obtained in  various geographical locations of  the  world.

Study Design: Fish  samples were collected from  commercial catches  at  six locations in  Black Sea along  Crimean coastal area (near the  riparian  cities Evpatoria, Saky, Sevastopol, Jalta, Alushta, Sudak and  Feodosia)  and  at  the  region  of  Arabat Pointer in Azov  Sea  in  spring-summer period 2011.

Place and Duration of Study: Experimental determinations were  provided in  the Crimean Experimental Station National Ukrainian Scientific Center of Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine,   and  in  the Institute  of  the  Biology  of  the  Southern  Seas.

Methodology: Chemical analysis was determined in 5 samples containing 10-15 organisms, assays run in triplicate. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn were measured by atomic absorption method used spectrophotometer S-600 (Ukraine).

Results: Copper level varied from 0.34 to 4.5 mg• kg^-1 wet weight, zinc concentration ranged between 0.73 and 4.15 mg• kg^-1 wet weight and lead level varied between 0.003 and 3.42 mg• kg^-1 wet weight.  The concentration of examined trace elements was below than the maximum levels permitted by Ukraine State Standards with the exception of lead, which level was significantly higher in four fish samples collected in western part of Crimea.

Conclusion:  The results indicate that the heavy metal pollution of anchovy was higher in western regions of Crimea coastal waters than that in eastern part. The knowledge of differences between concentration of trace metals level in anchovy from examined locations are very important  for human health because this fish   is highly distributed commercial species in  Black Sea  and Azov Sea.