Accumulation of Mercury and Lead in European Hake (Merluccius Merluccius) From the Albanian Coast

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination of marine ecosystems remains a global environmental concern due to the persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulative nature of the elements. Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) are among the most hazardous metals, capable of accumulating in fish tissues and posing risks to human health through their consumption. European hake (Merluccius merluccius) is a benthic fish species widely distributed both in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. The objective of the study was to evaluate mercury and lead concentration levels in edible tissue of European hake collected from the Albanian Adriatic coast, with particular attention to size-related accumulation patterns. A total of 64muscle sample tissue of European hake were divided into small and large size groups. The results of the study indicated low concentration levels of both metals, with no statistically significant differences between sized groups of fish samples. These findings contribute valuable baseline data for the Albanian coastal region and support further monitoring efforts.