EN
The aim of this study was to assess concentrations of essential and toxic metals in fish meat from north-west Poland. Selected metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Mg, Cr, V, Li, K, Ca, Na) were determined in the muscle tissue of freshwater fish species: pike, bream, perch and common carp, harvested from natural waters of West Pomerania, Poland. Levels of Cd and Pb were determined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS), Hg by the cold vapour technique after Hg ions reduction with SnCl2 (CV-AAS), and the other metals by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The accuracy and precision of methods applied were examined with certified reference materials: Fish-paste 2 and Dolt-2. The results of the research were processed using statistical methods (ANOVA); the Duncan’s test was performed at a significance level of p≤0.05. The data indicate that the examined fish were not polluted with metals, and the mean concentrations of toxic metals (Pb, Cd, Hg) were within the limits for fish and fishery products specified by EU legislation, so the fish were safe for human consumption.