Mercury level evaluation of Sardinella aurita from the western coast (Zawia, Libya)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63359/rw5mwn31Keywords:
Heavy metals, Mercury, Sardinella aurita, WHO, FAO, LibyaAbstract
sardinella auritta is a small marine fish that is widely consumed .this fish is significant due to its omega-3 fatty acid content.it inhabits relatively shallow coastal waters and can be subject to contamination from land sources .the aim of this study was to identify the mercury content in s.auritta fish brought from zawia west of tripoli.fish samples were brought in july 2010 and mercury content was analyzed using a device dma-80evo.the results indicated that the mercury concentration in s.aurita was 0.0361 -0.0064 ug/g.the mercury concentration s identified are lower than the international standards (who,fao=0.5ug/g).the fish under study are fit for human consumption .the results showed that there is a correlation between the concentration of mercury and the size of the fish as the larger the fish the higher the the concentration of mercury.
References
Aissioui S, Poirier L, Amara R, Ramdane Z., 2022. Concentrations of lead, cadmium and mercury in sardines, Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) from the Algerian coast and health risks for consumers. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, vol (109), 2022.
Aissioul, Souad; Poirier, Laurence.and Ramdane, Zouhir. 2021. Assessment of levels of Pb, Cd and Hg in Sardina Pilchardus (WALBAUM, 1792) from the bay of Boumerdes (Algeria). Studia Universitatis “Vasile Goldiş”, Seria Ştiinţele Vieţii, Vol. 31(4), pp. 172 – 177.
Aldeeb, Wafa A; Aldeeb, Basmah A.and Algeidi, Omar A., 2023. Evaluation of Heavy Metals Content in Fresh and Canned Sardines Produced in Some Mediterranean Countries. Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology, Vol (.5) 1, pp (34-37).
Al- Kazaghly, Ragab F; Altunsi, Hanan O. M; Ighwela, Keri A; Shukshuk, Alkasm H.and Howas, Mahmoud M.,2025. A comparative study on the accumulation of some heavy metals in Bluefin tuna (Euthynnus alletteratus) and Sardinella (Sardinella aurita) in the coastal waters in Zliten Libya. Journal of Basic Sciences, Vol 38(1) pp.: 39- 49.
Al-Mughairi, Sabra; Yesudhason, Poulose; Al-Busaidi, Moza; Al-Waili, Aaliah; Al-Rahbi, Waleed A. K; Al-Mazrooei, Nashwa.and Al-Habsi, Saoud H.,2013. Concentration and Exposure Assessment of Mercury in Commercial Fish and Other Seafood Marketed in Oman. Journal of Food ScienceJournal of Food Science, 78(7).
Canli, M; Kalay,M.and Ay,O.,2001. Metal (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Ni) Concentrations in Tissues of a Fish Sardina pilchardus and a Prawn Peaenus japonicus from Three Stations on the Mediterranean Sea. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. , 67:75–82.
Chahid, Adil; Hilali, Mustapha; Benlhachimi, Abdeljalil.and Bouzid, Taoufiq. 2014. Contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in fish from the Atlantic sea (Morocco) determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry, Volume 147, 15, pp 357-360.
Condini, Mario V; Hoeinghaus, David J; Roberts, Aaron P; Soulen, Brianne K.and Garcia, Alexandre M., 2017. Mercury concentrations in dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus in littoral and neritic habitats along the Southern Brazilian coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 115, Issues 1–2, pp 266-272.
Genc, T. O.and Yilmaz, F., 2018. Heavy Metals Content in Water, Sediment, and Fish (Mugil cephalus) From Koycegiz Lagoon System in Turkey: Approaches for Assessing Environmental and Health Risk. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (2018) Vol. 20: 71-82.
Joiris,Claude.R;Holsbeek,Ludo.and Moatemri,Nejib.L.,1999. Total and Methylmercury in Sardines Sardinella aurita and Sardina pilchardus from Tunisia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 38, (3), pp 188-192.
Lad, Devdatta; D’Souza, Bliss. Charles.and Fernandes, Benisha.Estela. Nellicia., 2023. Comparative Study of Mercury in Canned and Fresh Indian Oil Sardine Sardinella longiceps. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, Volume 44, Issue 21, pp 78-82.
Liu J-L, Xu X-R, Ding Z-H, Peng J-X, Jin M-H, Wang Y-S, Hong Y-G and Yue W-Z 2015 Heavy metals in wild marine fish from South China Sea: levels, tissue-and species-specific accumulation and potential risk to humans Ecotoxicology 24 1583–92.
Mehouel,F; Bouayad,L; Berber,A; Hauteghem, I. Van.and Wiele, M. Van.,2019. Risk assessment of mercury and methyl mercury intake via sardine and swordfish consumption in Algeria. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, Vol 70, No 3 (2019).
Mehouel, Fetta; Bouayad, Leila; Hammoudi, Abdel Hamid; Ayadi, Ouarda.and Regad, Fifi., 2019. Evaluation of the heavy metals (mercury, lead, and cadmium) contamination of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fished in three Algerian coasts. Veterinary World, 2; 12(1):7–11.
Naccari,C; Cicero,N; Ferrantelli,V; Giangrosso,G; Vella,A; Macaluso,A; Naccari,F.and Dugo,G.,2015. Toxic Metals in Pelagic, Benthic and Demersal Fish Species from Mediterranean FAO Zone 37. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 95(5):567-73.
Obeid, Pierre. J; El-Khoury, Bilal; Burger, Joanne; Aouad, Samer; Younis, Mira; Aoun, Amal.and El-Nakat, John. Hanna. 2011. Determination and assessment of total mercury levels in local, frozen and canned fish in Lebanon. Journal of Environmental Sciences 2011, 23(9) 1564–1569.
Santos, Luciano. N; Neves, Raquel. A .F; Koureiche ,Amanda. C.and Lailson-Brito, José .,2021. Mercury concentration in the sentinel fish species Orthopristis ruber: Effects of environmental and biological factors and human risk assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol 169.
Sartimbul,A; Amandani,J; Yona,D.and Fuad,M.,2021. Mercury content of Sardinella lemuru caught in East Java and Bali waters. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1869(1):012004.
Silva C A da, Tessier E, Kütter V T, Wasserman J C, Donard O F X and Silva-Filho E V 2011 Mercury speciation in fish of the Cabo Frio upwelling region, SE-Brazil Brazilian J. Oceanogr. 59 259–66.
Sompongchaiyakul, Penjai; Hantow, Jinnathum; Sornkrut, Somjet; Sumontha, Montri.and Jayasinghe, Rankiri P.P. Krishantha., 2008. An Assessment of Mercury Concentration in Fish Tissues Caught from Three Compartments of the Bay of Bengal. The Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management in the Bay of Bengal (pp.221-232) Publisher: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand.
Storelli, Maria M; Giacominelli-Stuffler, Roberto.and Marcotrigiano, Giuseppe O., 2006. Relationship between Total Mercury Concentration and Fish Size in Two Pelagic Fish Species:Implications for Consumer Health. Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 69, (6), pp 1402–1405.
Tuzen, M. (2009) Toxic and essential trace elemental con¬tents in fish species from the black sea, Turkey. Food Chem. Toxicol., 47(8): 1785-1790.
Voegborlo,R.B.and Adimado,A.A.,2010. Total mercury distribution in different fish species representing different trophic levels from the Atlantic coast of Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 30(1), pp 1-9.
Aissioui S, Poirier L, Amara R, Ramdane Z., 2022. Concentrations of lead, cadmium and mercury in sardines, Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) from the Algerian coast and health risks for consumers. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, vol (109), 2022.
Aissioul, Souad; Poirier, Laurence.and Ramdane, Zouhir. 2021. Assessment of levels of Pb, Cd and Hg in Sardina Pilchardus (WALBAUM, 1792) from the bay of Boumerdes (Algeria). Studia Universitatis “Vasile Goldiş”, Seria Ştiinţele Vieţii, Vol. 31(4), pp. 172 – 177.
Aldeeb, Wafa A; Aldeeb, Basmah A.and Algeidi, Omar A., 2023. Evaluation of Heavy Metals Content in Fresh and Canned Sardines Produced in Some Mediterranean Countries. Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology, Vol (.5) 1, pp (34-37).
Al- Kazaghly, Ragab F; Altunsi, Hanan O. M; Ighwela, Keri A; Shukshuk, Alkasm H.and Howas, Mahmoud M.,2025. A comparative study on the accumulation of some heavy metals in Bluefin tuna (Euthynnus alletteratus) and Sardinella (Sardinella aurita) in the coastal waters in Zliten Libya. Journal of Basic Sciences, Vol 38(1) pp.: 39- 49.
Al-Mughairi, Sabra; Yesudhason, Poulose; Al-Busaidi, Moza; Al-Waili, Aaliah; Al-Rahbi, Waleed A. K; Al-Mazrooei, Nashwa.and Al-Habsi, Saoud H.,2013. Concentration and Exposure Assessment of Mercury in Commercial Fish and Other Seafood Marketed in Oman. Journal of Food ScienceJournal of Food Science, 78(7).
Canli, M; Kalay,M.and Ay,O.,2001. Metal (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Ni) Concentrations in Tissues of a Fish Sardina pilchardus and a Prawn Peaenus japonicus from Three Stations on the Mediterranean Sea. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. , 67:75–82.
Chahid, Adil; Hilali, Mustapha; Benlhachimi, Abdeljalil.and Bouzid, Taoufiq. 2014. Contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in fish from the Atlantic sea (Morocco) determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry, Volume 147, 15, pp 357-360.
Condini, Mario V; Hoeinghaus, David J; Roberts, Aaron P; Soulen, Brianne K.and Garcia, Alexandre M., 2017. Mercury concentrations in dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus in littoral and neritic habitats along the Southern Brazilian coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 115, Issues 1–2, pp 266-272.
Genc, T. O.and Yilmaz, F., 2018. Heavy Metals Content in Water, Sediment, and Fish (Mugil cephalus) From Koycegiz Lagoon System in Turkey: Approaches for Assessing Environmental and Health Risk. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (2018) Vol. 20: 71-82.
Joiris,Claude.R;Holsbeek,Ludo.and Moatemri,Nejib.L.,1999. Total and Methylmercury in Sardines Sardinella aurita and Sardina pilchardus from Tunisia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 38, (3), pp 188-192.
Lad, Devdatta; D’Souza, Bliss. Charles.and Fernandes, Benisha.Estela. Nellicia., 2023. Comparative Study of Mercury in Canned and Fresh Indian Oil Sardine Sardinella longiceps. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, Volume 44, Issue 21, pp 78-82.
Liu J-L, Xu X-R, Ding Z-H, Peng J-X, Jin M-H, Wang Y-S, Hong Y-G and Yue W-Z 2015 Heavy metals in wild marine fish from South China Sea: levels, tissue-and species-specific accumulation and potential risk to humans Ecotoxicology 24 1583–92.
Mehouel,F; Bouayad,L; Berber,A; Hauteghem, I. Van.and Wiele, M. Van.,2019. Risk assessment of mercury and methyl mercury intake via sardine and swordfish consumption in Algeria. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, Vol 70, No 3 (2019).
Mehouel, Fetta; Bouayad, Leila; Hammoudi, Abdel Hamid; Ayadi, Ouarda.and Regad, Fifi., 2019. Evaluation of the heavy metals (mercury, lead, and cadmium) contamination of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fished in three Algerian coasts. Veterinary World, 2; 12(1):7–11.
Naccari,C; Cicero,N; Ferrantelli,V; Giangrosso,G; Vella,A; Macaluso,A; Naccari,F.and Dugo,G.,2015. Toxic Metals in Pelagic, Benthic and Demersal Fish Species from Mediterranean FAO Zone 37. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 95(5):567-73.
Obeid, Pierre. J; El-Khoury, Bilal; Burger, Joanne; Aouad, Samer; Younis, Mira; Aoun, Amal.and El-Nakat, John. Hanna. 2011. Determination and assessment of total mercury levels in local, frozen and canned fish in Lebanon. Journal of Environmental Sciences 2011, 23(9) 1564–1569.
Santos, Luciano. N; Neves, Raquel. A .F; Koureiche ,Amanda. C.and Lailson-Brito, José .,2021. Mercury concentration in the sentinel fish species Orthopristis ruber: Effects of environmental and biological factors and human risk assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol 169.
Sartimbul,A; Amandani,J; Yona,D.and Fuad,M.,2021. Mercury content of Sardinella lemuru caught in East Java and Bali waters. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1869(1):012004.
Silva C A da, Tessier E, Kütter V T, Wasserman J C, Donard O F X and Silva-Filho E V 2011 Mercury speciation in fish of the Cabo Frio upwelling region, SE-Brazil Brazilian J. Oceanogr. 59 259–66.
Sompongchaiyakul, Penjai; Hantow, Jinnathum; Sornkrut, Somjet; Sumontha, Montri.and Jayasinghe, Rankiri P.P. Krishantha., 2008. An Assessment of Mercury Concentration in Fish Tissues Caught from Three Compartments of the Bay of Bengal. The Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management in the Bay of Bengal (pp.221-232) Publisher: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand.
Storelli, Maria M; Giacominelli-Stuffler, Roberto.and Marcotrigiano, Giuseppe O., 2006. Relationship between Total Mercury Concentration and Fish Size in Two Pelagic Fish Species:Implications for Consumer Health. Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 69, (6), pp 1402–1405.
Tuzen, M. (2009) Toxic and essential trace elemental con¬tents in fish species from the black sea, Turkey. Food Chem. Toxicol., 47(8): 1785-1790.
Voegborlo,R.B.and Adimado,A.A.,2010. Total mercury distribution in different fish species representing different trophic levels from the Atlantic coast of Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 30(1), pp 1-9.
Aissioui S, Poirier L, Amara R, Ramdane Z., 2022. Concentrations of lead, cadmium and mercury in sardines, Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) from the Algerian coast and health risks for consumers. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, vol (109), 2022.
Aissioul, Souad; Poirier, Laurence.and Ramdane, Zouhir. 2021. Assessment of levels of Pb, Cd and Hg in Sardina Pilchardus (WALBAUM, 1792) from the bay of Boumerdes (Algeria). Studia Universitatis “Vasile Goldiş”, Seria Ştiinţele Vieţii, Vol. 31(4), pp. 172 – 177.
Aldeeb, Wafa A; Aldeeb, Basmah A.and Algeidi, Omar A., 2023. Evaluation of Heavy Metals Content in Fresh and Canned Sardines Produced in Some Mediterranean Countries. Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology, Vol (.5) 1, pp (34-37).
Al- Kazaghly, Ragab F; Altunsi, Hanan O. M; Ighwela, Keri A; Shukshuk, Alkasm H.and Howas, Mahmoud M.,2025. A comparative study on the accumulation of some heavy metals in Bluefin tuna (Euthynnus alletteratus) and Sardinella (Sardinella aurita) in the coastal waters in Zliten Libya. Journal of Basic Sciences, Vol 38(1) pp.: 39- 49.
Al-Mughairi, Sabra; Yesudhason, Poulose; Al-Busaidi, Moza; Al-Waili, Aaliah; Al-Rahbi, Waleed A. K; Al-Mazrooei, Nashwa.and Al-Habsi, Saoud H.,2013. Concentration and Exposure Assessment of Mercury in Commercial Fish and Other Seafood Marketed in Oman. Journal of Food ScienceJournal of Food Science, 78(7).
Canli, M; Kalay,M.and Ay,O.,2001. Metal (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Ni) Concentrations in Tissues of a Fish Sardina pilchardus and a Prawn Peaenus japonicus from Three Stations on the Mediterranean Sea. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. , 67:75–82.
Chahid, Adil; Hilali, Mustapha; Benlhachimi, Abdeljalil.and Bouzid, Taoufiq. 2014. Contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in fish from the Atlantic sea (Morocco) determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry, Volume 147, 15, pp 357-360.
Condini, Mario V; Hoeinghaus, David J; Roberts, Aaron P; Soulen, Brianne K.and Garcia, Alexandre M., 2017. Mercury concentrations in dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus in littoral and neritic habitats along the Southern Brazilian coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 115, Issues 1–2, pp 266-272.
Genc, T. O.and Yilmaz, F., 2018. Heavy Metals Content in Water, Sediment, and Fish (Mugil cephalus) From Koycegiz Lagoon System in Turkey: Approaches for Assessing Environmental and Health Risk. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (2018) Vol. 20: 71-82.
Joiris,Claude.R;Holsbeek,Ludo.and Moatemri,Nejib.L.,1999. Total and Methylmercury in Sardines Sardinella aurita and Sardina pilchardus from Tunisia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 38, (3), pp 188-192.
Lad, Devdatta; D’Souza, Bliss. Charles.and Fernandes, Benisha.Estela. Nellicia., 2023. Comparative Study of Mercury in Canned and Fresh Indian Oil Sardine Sardinella longiceps. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, Volume 44, Issue 21, pp 78-82.
Liu J-L, Xu X-R, Ding Z-H, Peng J-X, Jin M-H, Wang Y-S, Hong Y-G and Yue W-Z 2015 Heavy metals in wild marine fish from South China Sea: levels, tissue-and species-specific accumulation and potential risk to humans Ecotoxicology 24 1583–92.
Mehouel,F; Bouayad,L; Berber,A; Hauteghem, I. Van.and Wiele, M. Van.,2019. Risk assessment of mercury and methyl mercury intake via sardine and swordfish consumption in Algeria. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, Vol 70, No 3 (2019).
Mehouel, Fetta; Bouayad, Leila; Hammoudi, Abdel Hamid; Ayadi, Ouarda.and Regad, Fifi., 2019. Evaluation of the heavy metals (mercury, lead, and cadmium) contamination of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fished in three Algerian coasts. Veterinary World, 2; 12(1):7–11.
Naccari,C; Cicero,N; Ferrantelli,V; Giangrosso,G; Vella,A; Macaluso,A; Naccari,F.and Dugo,G.,2015. Toxic Metals in Pelagic, Benthic and Demersal Fish Species from Mediterranean FAO Zone 37. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 95(5):567-73.
Obeid, Pierre. J; El-Khoury, Bilal; Burger, Joanne; Aouad, Samer; Younis, Mira; Aoun, Amal.and El-Nakat, John. Hanna. 2011. Determination and assessment of total mercury levels in local, frozen and canned fish in Lebanon. Journal of Environmental Sciences 2011, 23(9) 1564–1569.
Santos, Luciano. N; Neves, Raquel. A .F; Koureiche ,Amanda. C.and Lailson-Brito, José .,2021. Mercury concentration in the sentinel fish species Orthopristis ruber: Effects of environmental and biological factors and human risk assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol 169.
Sartimbul,A; Amandani,J; Yona,D.and Fuad,M.,2021. Mercury content of Sardinella lemuru caught in East Java and Bali waters. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1869(1):012004.
Silva C A da, Tessier E, Kütter V T, Wasserman J C, Donard O F X and Silva-Filho E V 2011 Mercury speciation in fish of the Cabo Frio upwelling region, SE-Brazil Brazilian J. Oceanogr. 59 259–66.
Sompongchaiyakul, Penjai; Hantow, Jinnathum; Sornkrut, Somjet; Sumontha, Montri.and Jayasinghe, Rankiri P.P. Krishantha., 2008. An Assessment of Mercury Concentration in Fish Tissues Caught from Three Compartments of the Bay of Bengal. The Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management in the Bay of Bengal (pp.221-232) Publisher: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand.
Storelli, Maria M; Giacominelli-Stuffler, Roberto.and Marcotrigiano, Giuseppe O., 2006. Relationship between Total Mercury Concentration and Fish Size in Two Pelagic Fish Species:Implications for Consumer Health. Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 69, (6), pp 1402–1405.
Tuzen, M. (2009) Toxic and essential trace elemental con¬tents in fish species from the black sea, Turkey. Food Chem. Toxicol., 47(8): 1785-1790.
Voegborlo,R.B.and Adimado,A.A.,2010. Total mercury distribution in different fish species representing different trophic levels from the Atlantic coast of Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 30(1), pp 1-9.
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