Toxic elements in marine products and human hair samples in Mersin, Turkey

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 15 - 21
• Main Authors: DOGAN-SAGLAMTIMUR, N, KUMBUR, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag 01.07.2002
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Child; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Fish Products - analysis; Fishes - metabolism; Food Contamination - analysis; Hair - chemistry; Hair - metabolism; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Toxicology; Turkey; Xenobiotics - analysis; Xenobiotics - metabolism; Asia; Turkey; Human; Rate; Seafood; Epidemiology; Zinc; Heavy metal; Hair (head); Trophic chain; Pollutant; Lead; Mercury; Public health; Food; Chemical contamination
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-002-0003-z

Metallic elements are found in all living organisms, where they play variety of roles. Some metals are essential elements and their deficiency results in impairment of biological function, but when present in excess, essential metals may also become toxic. Fishes have the ability to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues by the absorption along the gill surface and gut tract wall to higher levels which are several hundred times more than the concentration of metals in their surrounding water medium. Accumulation of heavy metals is reported to be influenced by many factors such as the organ, species, age, sex and the environmental factors like temperature, salinity and pH.