Nutritional study of heavy metals and trace elements in Serranus cabrilla in Northwest Atlantic

The study was conducted on the metals and trace elements content in the muscle and liver tissue of specimens of comber Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Canary Islands coastline, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP - OES) methodology. The samples were comprised of 20 commercial specimens, within the commercial size, acquired in a shopping center in La Laguna, Tenerife. The liver was the organ where the highest levels of copper and zinc were determined, with values of 2.543 mg / kg and 15.456 mg / kg respectively, probably related to its metabolic role as the organ responsible for detoxification. The results of the study indicate concentrations of cadmium and lead in muscle tissue below the maximum levels allowed for human consumption (0.108 mg / kg for Cd, and 0.054 mg / kg for Pb), and that the rest of the metals, both trace elements such as microelements and macroelements make a good dietary contribution to the recommended daily intake (RDI). Given the biology of Serranus cabrilla and its role as a predator, it would be necessary to expand the study to determine the relationship between size and the bioaccumulation factor of these metals within the food safety policy.