A Comparison of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Skin and Muscle Tissues of Wild and Cultured Carp (Cyprinus Carpio) in the Southeastern Caspian Sea Area of Iran

Metal concentrations in commercial and non commercial fish were surveyed to assess risks of fish consumption to human health and importantly, assess contamination in the food chain. in this study, lead (pb), zinc (zn) and copper (cu) concentrations were determined in muscle and skin tissues of wild and cultured cyprinus carpio (common carp) from the southeastern caspian sea area and a nearby fish farm in november 2007. metal concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. pb and cu concentrations in all of the samples were below detection limits and there were no statistically significant differences of zn concentrations in muscle and skin tissue between wild and cultured carp. but zn concentrations in the skin tissue were significantly higher than in muscle tissue in both groups; this suggests that more studies about skin tissue as a site of bioaccumulation are necessary. none of the concentrations exceeded who safety standards. our results have suggested that heavy metal contents in carp are negligible and that its consumption should pose no health problems for consumers of either the wild or farmed fish.