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The environmental monitoring of chemical toxicants has been a widely studied topic in the last few decades. The main aim of the present study was to determine the total concentration of nine elements (Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in the fish species grey mullet (M. cephalus) and in the coastal marine waters collected from various sampling points along the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy). Further, those results were applied to predict the pollution degree in those coastal marine environments. The fish samples were subject to acid digestion followed by appropriate analytical determination. The metal concentrations in marine water samples collected from the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy) were also analyzed. Unpaired Student’s t-test and the one-way ANOVA were applied for the statistical analysis of the data. The statistical results revealed a significant variation (p < 0.0001) in the concentration of various fish tissues. The accumulation of toxic and essential elements differs significantly in grey mullet species caught from the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy). The results from this study may serve as a convenient approach during marine pollution programs set by both countries (Italy and Bulgaria).

The fatty acid compositions of three Black Sea fish species turbot (Pseta maxima), red mullet (Mullus barbatus ponticus) and garfish (Belone belone) were investigated. This species are considered as preferred for consumption in Bulgaria. Lipid extraction was done according to the Bligh and Dyer method. The fatty acid composition was determined by GC/MS. The saturated fatty acids amounts were 38.32 % for turbot, 35.44 % red mullet and 42.90% for garfish. Monounsaturated fatty acids were found in lowest level in comparison with other groups for garfish (23.65%) and turbot (24.85%) while for red mullet they have a highest value -37.56%. Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as eicosapentaenoic (C 20:5 omega 3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic (C 22:6 omega 3, DHA) acids were found in highest levels in turbot (22.26%) and garfish (21.80%) and in lowest values of red mullet (9.35%). The results showed that the fish examined are good source of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, resulting in a very favourable omega 3 / omega 6 ratios, especially in turbot and garfish.

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Many studies suggest that marine molluscs are one of the most important dietary sources of fat soluble vitamins (E, D3 and A) and essential fatty acids (FA). The most commercially important species from the Bulgarian Black Sea are the Black mussel, rapana and shrimp. There is scarce information in the scientific literature about fat soluble vitamins and FA composition of these Black Sea molluscs. The aims of the present study are to determine and compare fat soluble vitamins content as well as relative daily intake, FA composition and atherogenic index (IA), thrombogenicity index (IT) and flesh-lipid quality index (FLQ) in wild Black Sea mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), rapana (Rapana venosa) and shrimp (Crangon crangon). Fat soluble vitamins were analysed simultaneously using RP-HPLC system. The FA profile was analysed by GC-MS. All of the analysed samples presented significant amounts of vitamin E, followed by vitamin A and D3. Black Sea molluscs are excellent sources of fat soluble vitamins, especially for vitamin D3 - one survey provides more than 100% of the RDI established in Bulgaria. The FA composition of total lipids showed significant differences and the present study revealed that SFA content was significantly higher than MUFA (p<0.001) and PUFA (p<0.001) (SFA>PUFA>MUFA) in shrimp and mussel whereas rapana showed opposite trends (PUFA>SFA>MUFA). The omega6/omega3 and PUFA/SFA ratios of the analysed species were greater than the FAO/WHO recommendations.