Determination of Heavy Metals in Fish Samples from Jordanian Markets using Microwave-Assisted Wet Acid Digestion followed by AAS Analysis

The present study examines the concentration levels of lead, mercury and cadmium in different fish samples to determine their level of safety and effects of bioaccumulation. The health risks posed by bioaccumulation of heavy metals in human body through the consumption of contamination fish calls for the accurate determination of the metals in fish samples. The fish samples were digested using microwave oven digestion technique, folowd by AAS analysis. It was observed that frozen tuna had the highest levels of mercury at 157.07 ± 23.04 µg/kg, which is consistent with bioaccumulation pattern in predatory fish. Significantly lower Hg levels were found in non-predatory fish samples, such as bata with hg concentration of 0.88 ± 0.00 µg/kg and chapil with concentration of 0.05 ± 0.00 µg/kg. The concentration of Pb were lower compared to the concentration of Hg in all samples with the highest concentration of Pb found in Merluccius pacifica (27.08 ± 0.00 µg/kg), while the lowest values were found in salmon (1.32 ± 0.21 µg/kg) and basa fillets (1,51 ± 0.72 µg/kg). Cadmium was not detected in all the fish samples analyzed. The findings concluded that the bioaccumulation of heavy metals is influenced by the exposure to the environment and proximity to industrial effluents. This study observed that heavy metal contamination can be reduced by using proper handling and preparation methods, this include removal of organs that are capable of bioaccumulation. The concentration of Hg and Pb were found to be below the EU permissible levels, while Cd was not detected in the samples of fish analyzed. Health risk assessment showed that Tuna showed the highest THQ for Hg (84.82), while Merluccius pacifica had the highest Pb THQ (1.46). Over 10 species exceeded THQ > 1 for Hg, indicating health risk. Most Pb levels were low, except in select species.