Evaluation of Essential Elements and Heavy Metals in Sardine Fish from Kivukoni, Kunduchi and Bagamoyo Fish Markets in Tanzania

Evaluation of heavy metals contamination in Rabbit Fish (Signus Sutor) from selected landing sites in Zanzibar, Tanzania

“…The American Heart Association recommends the consumption of fish at least twice a week to reach the daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids (5). Globally, fish consumption has progressively increased (6), however, this increase is accompanied by a growing concern about the discharge of chemical waste directly into rivers and seas (7).Heavy metals, metallic elements that occur naturally with high relative density and atomic weight greater than 4 g/cm 3 , or 5 times or greater than water (6), are considered toxic or poisonous even at low concentrations (5). Essential metals such as Copper, Chromium, Zinc, Iron, Nickel, and Selenium are naturally occurring elements with biological functions in living organisms and are toxic at elevated levels.…”

“…Thus, high concentration of heavy metals in the environment has the potential to cause devastating effects on the recipient environment and organisms, the ecosystem used, such as Concentrated Nitric acid 69% A.R, (15). Arguably, marine organisms such as fish can hold toxic materials in small to high concentrations in their body without harming themselves, however, such toxicity can severely affect humans who feed on them (6).…”