Determination of Mercury, Cadmium, Tin and Nickel in Three Canned Tuna in Iran

Abstract

Considering the growing population and increasing demand for protein intake, the need for more resources to supply protein is a subject of interest 1. The proteins with marine origin have a significant degree of importance due to their higher protein and omega 3 fatty acid contents 2. With population growth, we witnessed the industrial development and as a result the increasing problem of environmental pollution and food contamination to heavy metals were brought about which require major focus 3. Meanwhile, fish due to aquatic pollution are exposed to different levels of these elements depending on fish size and age and these heavy metals can accumulate in fish tissue at different significant levels. Some large species of fish such as thunnus SPP due to having a special diet that is known as biomagnifications have high concentrations of mercury in their body tissue. Since mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead, are toxic for humans even at a very small amounts, their exact measurement and identification is important. Biotransformation of mercury changes it into a toxic known as methyl mercury; also, an increase in the nickel intake increases the risk of lung, larynx and prostate cancer 4-7 .