Contents of heavy metals in marine fishes, sold in Seoul

This study was carried out to estimate the contents of heavy metals in big marine 17 kinds of fishes (n=89) which had been sold at wholesale market in Seoul from January to December in 2005. The contents of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chrome (Cr), copper (Cu) and arsenic (As) were measured by the mercury analyzer and atomic spectrophotometer (AAS) in the flesh, liver, and gill part. The values of heavy metals in fishes were as follows (Mean +/- SD, mg/kg). The average contents of heavy metals in the fishes were Hg 0.08 +/- 0.01 mg/kg, Pb 0.17 +/- 0.32 mg/kg, Cd 0.34 +/- 0.07 mg/kg, Cr 0.05 +/- 0.05 mg/kg, Cu 1.14 +/- 0.13 mg/kg, As 0.24 +/- 0.22 mg/kg. Of the heavy metals detected in 3 parts, liver was measured highly in the all heavy metals. Of the heavy metals detected in countries, Hg, Pb, and Cu were measured highly in New Zealand, Cd and As in Norway, Cr in Korea. The range of heavy metal contents in imported and domestic fishes are low level, except of mercury contents of imported Yellow porgy (n=2), compared with regulation value of anther nations and Korea. And the contents of heavy metal in the imported fishes are natural. By correlation coefficients