Determination of Metals and Metalloids Levelsof Striped Venus (Chamelea gallina L., 1758) inthe Southern Black Sea Coast

Striped venus has an important role in the Turkish fisheries. Recently, the average amount of catching has about 20000 tons in the Black Sea. In this study, concentrations of B, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Pb were determined in economically important bivalve species (Chamelea gallina L., 1758) distributed throughout the coastal areas in the southwestern Black Sea. Samples were collected from five sites in Sinop (Turkeli, Ayancik, Sarikum) and Kastamonu (Inebolu, Cide). The elemental compositions of the striped venus were determined by ICP-MS after freeze-drying and digestion of microwave system. Average length, height and width of bivalve samples measured as 18.01±2.45 cm, 9.47±1.21 cm, and 16.26±2.18 cm respectively. Metals and metalloids concentrations were measured as for B:4.86±2.05; V:3.45±0.84; Cr:6.84±3.88; Mn:30.35±10.30; Co:2.27±0.36; Ni: 6.92±1.31; Cu:1.91±2.21; Zn:74.54±12.83; As:21.58±4.34; Se:4.31±0.57; Mo:1.14±0.53; Cd:3.99±0.91 and Pb:0.82±0.27 mg/kg dry weight. When wet weight/dry weight conversion ratio was applied, it was determined that the concentrations of all the measured elements were lower than the maximum limits set by European legislation