Abstract

In this study bio-accumulation of trace metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) were determined in water, sediment and European eel (Anguilla anguilla) tissues from Tersakan Stream (Mugla) between September 2011- August 2012. Totally 160 eels have been caught and investigated seasonally. To determine the heavy metal levels in eel tissue samples from gill, liver and muscle of eel were obtained and analyzed in ICP-AES after dried in microwave unit. The mean metal amounts of all investigated tissues were also statistically analysed and discussed results. According to the findings; pH value varied between 7, 55-8, 06. In water; Co were not determined in any seasons but Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were present almost in the whole seasons while Fe level

was highest. In sediment; Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were present in all seasons while Fe was highest. In the gill, liver and muscle tissues mean highest accumulation was observed at Fe with 66,08 μg/g, 206,63 and 31,21 μg/g levels respectively. The accumulation of investigated heavy metals in muscle tissue was in order as; Zn> Fe> Mn> Cr> Cu> Ni> Co. In gill tissue the order of accumulation of the investigated heavy metals was as; Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Cr> Ni> Co. In liver tissue the order of the accumulation

of the investigated heavy metals was; Fe> Zn> Cu> Mn> Cr> Ni> Co. In generally, it was found that the metal accumulation levels of edible portions (muscle) were lower than other tissues. The trace metal concentrations in the edible tissue (muscle) of Anguilla anguilla was compared with the tolerable national and international values in fish. The result obtained showed that the

trace metal concentrations in edible tissue did not exceed the WHO/FAO, TFC, Range of International Standards, EPA and IAEA- 407guidelines. The results of this study revealed that consuming the Anguilla anguilla from the Tersakan Stream may not have harmful effects.