Comparing Element Content in Small Pelagic Fish Species from Different Fishing Grounds in the Central-East Atlantic Ocean. Risk Assessment

Toxic metal and trace element levels in the ocean are increasing heterogeneously in the world, which is why it is important to assess their concentrations in organisms of fishing interest. The study of metal concentrations in different fishing grounds is of vital importance for nutritional control. In this study, two fishing grounds have been studied, in the Canary Islands and in Portugal, in each area 50 muscle samples have been taken from each of the studied species, Scomber colias, Sardina pilchardus, and Trachurus species from the Canary Islands (T. picturatus) and Portuguese (T. trachurus). The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, V and Zn have been analyzed in mg / kg. Cd and Pb concentrations are higher in the species from the Canary Islands and may be linked to the African upwelling inputs, which greatly influence the metal concentrations of the species. The species with the highest concentration of metals and trace elements are influenced by the anthropogenic action of coastal pollution and the natural action of African upwelling and Saharan dust. The Cd and Pb concentrations determined in the muscle tissue of S. colias, T. picturatus, T. trachurus and S. pilchardus are below the maximum permitted limits set by the current legislation, and are, therefore, suitable for human consumption. But supporting very little nutritional percentage of the elements studied.En prens