CHARACTERISTIC LEVELS OF SOME PESTICIDES AND HEAVY-METALS IN IMPORTEDFISH

Imported fish samples of sardine and mackerel were collected from the Egyptian governorates. Some pesticides were found at high frequency (e .g. dimethoate, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDA), lindane, endrin, heptachlor and malathion). However, a lower frequenc y was found with aldrin, beta-benzene hexachlor (beta-BHC) and methyl parathion. Although some pesticides were at relatively high concentrat ions, mean concentrations were below the permissible levels proposed b y the FAO. Imported sardine and mackerel had higher levels of lead and chromium than the permissible limits proposed by FAO. However, other metals (cadmium, copper, iron, manganese and zinc) were found at level s lower than the proposed permissible limits. Copyright (C) 1996 Publi shed by Elsevier Science Ltd