Trace elements in the kidney tissue of Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L. 1758) in Turkish seas

Abstract

Trace elements, namely lead (Pb), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe), found in kidney tissues were analyzed and compared between wild/fattened and female/male bluefin tuna (BFT) in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. One hundred (that is, 50 female and 50 male) individual specimens of wild and fattened tuna were investigated. The mean trace elements of the wild fish were determined to include Pb, 0.166; Cu, 1.683; Mn, 0.252; Ni, 0.322; Zn, 8.974; and Fe, 14.017 (ìg g-1 wt wt). The values for the fattened fish were determined to be Pb, 0.116; Cu, 1.279; Mn, 0.208; Ni, 0.231; Zn, 8.507; and Fe, 10.364 (ìg g-1 wt wt). The comparison of trace elements between wild and fattened fish was significant (p < 0.05). In terms of gender, the mean trace elements in the kidney tissue of wild and fattened female BFT were determined, respectively, to be Pb, 0.183, 0.124; Cu, 1.947, 1.250; Mn, 0.281, 0.217; Ni, 0.357, 0.229; Zn, 9.641, 9.205; and Fe, 14.351, 11.314. Similar values for wild and fattened male BFT were found, respectively, Pb, 0.149, 0.107; Cu, 1.418, 1.307; Mn, 0.223, 0.198; Ni, 0.286, 0.232; Zn, 8.307, 7.808; and Fe, 13.683, 9.413.

Key words: Bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, trace elements, lead, copper, manganese, nickel, zinc, iron,kidney.