Levels of Chromium and Copper in Liver and Muscle Tissues of the Round Sardinella Sardinella aurita ( Valenciennes ) from the Oran Coastline , Algeria

The aim of the present study is to determine the levels of two heavy metals (Chromium and Copper) in the liver and muscle tissues of Sardinella aurita from the Oran coastline. Metal levels in fish samples were analyzed by using atomic absorption. 400 readings were carried out between May and October 2007. The order of heavy metal accumulation in the fish were in the order of magnitude as Cu > Cr. The average concentrations recorded in the fish, in this study, ranged, respectively, between 1.9 to 3.97 mg/kg for Copper, and between 0.07 to 0.12mg/kg for Chromium. The levels measured in liver tissue are higher than those reported for muscle tissue. The present study confirms that the round Sardinella Sardinella aurita (Valenciennes, 1847), from the Oran coastline, can bioaccumulate heavy metals from a polluted environment. The average concentrations of Cr (0.083±0.01mg/kg) and Cu (2.78±2.92, recorded in our study, were above FAO limiting standards for food fish.