LAUSR

This study investigated the concentrations of some accumulated trace metals (iron, manganese, zinc, and copper) and fatty acids in liver and muscle tissues of Mirror and Scaly Carp varieties (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) living in Keban Dam Reservoir (Elazig), which is the second-largest artificial lake in Turkey that hosts commercially valuable and preferred fish varieties for human consumption. The ICP-MS method was used to analyze trace element concentrations. Fatty acid levels were measured in a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) device, using FID. Considering the 2 fish varieties and tissues that were studied, the mean metal concentrations (μg/g) were found in the following ranges: Fe 12.32-49.97, Mn 0.12-0.62, Zn 10.45-86.59, and Cu 2.74-11.86. While the lowest levels were detected in the muscle tissue for all the metals examined, the levels in the liver tissue were significantly higher. According to the results of the analyses on fatty acid concentrations, the mean total saturated fatty acid levels in the muscle tissue of the scaly carp and mirror carp varieties were found to be 31.07 and 31.43 (%), respectively, while these values for the liver tissue were consecutively 22.36 and 22.08 (%). Successively, the mean total levels of unsaturated fatty acids were determined as 68.93 and 68.40 (%) in the muscle tissue and 77.64 and 77.92 in the liver tissue. As a result of our study, due to the finding that the trace (metallic) element accumulation rates were below the upper limits of the tolerable range, and the examined fish varieties were rich in fatty acids, we can state that mirror carp and scaly carp living in Keban Dam Reservoir are highly nutritious for human diets. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.