Evaluation of Element Concentrations in two economic marine Fish Species Mullus surmuletus and Mullus barbatus, in Tripoli, Libya
Keywords:
Heavy metals, Fish species, Aquatic pollution, Chemical composition, Food safetyAbstract
This study aims to assess the concentrations of heavy metals—Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), and Lead (Pb) in two economically significant marine fish species: Mullus surmuletus (Striped red mullet) and Mullus barbatus (red mullet) .A total of 18 specimens from each species were obtained from local fishermen at the Tripoli fish market ,The average lengths and weights were as follows: Striped red mullet: (18.16 cm, 77.35 g) ,Red mullet: (18.3cm, 74.38 g) Heavy metal concentrations were measured by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). Results indicated that all detected concentrations were under internationally accepted Safety Limits, as defined by WHO, FAO, and EU standards. Among the studied metals, iron exhibits the highest concentration across the two species, followed by zinc, then copper and lastly lead. These findings confirm the safety of the studied fish species for human consumption and provide a valuable reference for environmental monitoring and public health risk assessment in the region.
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