Heavy metals and PAHs in canned fish supplies on the Serbian market

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the level of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 57 samples of canned tuna, 25 samples of canned sardines, and 16 samples of canned smoked sprouts, collected from supermarkets in Serbia. Heavy metal levels (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, iron, copper, and zinc) were determined using an inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. Sixteen analysed PAHs were determined using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method. The trace elements in canned fish were in the range (mg kg−1) of 0.01–0.28 for lead, 0.003–0.08 for cadmium, 0.007–0.64 for mercury, 0.17–3.73 for arsenic, 3.88–52.2 for iron, 0.2–5.95 for copper, and 1.35–44.5 for zinc. Total PAH levels reached 17.67 µg kg−1 in canned tuna and 15.12 µg kg−1 in sardines, whereas in smoked sprouts it amounted to 57.19 µg kg−1. Some of the samples contained cadmium, arsenic, copper, and benzo(a)pyrene above the limits as set by the European and Serbian legislation.