HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN TURBOT (SCOPHTHALMUS MAXIMUS) FROM BULGARIAN BLACK SEA COAST.

Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus, Linnaeus 1758) is a marine bottom fish and is considered to be one of the most commercialy valuable species in Black Sea. The aim of this survey was to determine the heavy metal concentrations in turbot tissue from the Bulgarian part of the sea. Samples were collected during the fishing season between June and September in 2020 from Varna and Burgas regions. Metals were determined using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry). The order of the levels of the heavy metals in the fish samples was Zn > Al > Mn > As > Hg > Pb = Cd from Varna and Zn > Al > As >Mn > Hg > Pb = Cd from Burgas. The current data demonstrated higher concentrations of Mn and Zn from Varna. According to the obtained results Pb, Cd, Hg levels in the tested turbot samples were within the limits set by the EC regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]