+44-7897-074717Vishwakalyan Bhoyroo, Naajiyah Soobratty and Bhanooduth Lalljee
Concentrations of trace elements zinc, copper, nickel, chromium and heavy metals lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic were detected in the muscle tissues of four commercially edible fishes belonging to the scombridae and related families including yellow fin tuna (Thunnus albacares), Dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Marlin (Makaira mazara) and the dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippuru) in the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of Mauritius. The concentrations were within the range 1.34-10.03, 0.0-1.42, 0.23-0.89, 0.0-2.43, 0.0, 3.60-5.44, 0.03-0.13 and 0.03-0.07 mg/kg wet weight respectively for summer and winter seasons. Inter-species variations with respect to elemental accumulations were not significantly different as compared to seasonal variations for the accumulation of chromium, zinc and lead. Marlin and Dorado caught during the summer season exceeded the authorised level of chromium in muscle tissues according to international standards. A survey carried out among fish consumers in Mauritius revealed that 80 % of the respondents were ignorant about heavy metal bio-accumulation.
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