Estimation of Heavy Metals Content, Microbiological and Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Canned Tuna Fish from some Local Markets in Derna City

Abstract

Five distinct varieties of canned tuna, both foreign- and domestically-produced, were the subject of this investigation. Amid to: Estimation of heavy metals content, microbiological and physico-chemical characteristics of canned tuna fish from some local markets in Derna city. Material and Methods:  The two main types of canned tuna in oil and brine (whole or slices) were the most common in Derna, and all samples were obtained in 2023 from supermarkets and shops in different neighborhoods of Derna. After wet digestion, the samples were analyzed with an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) for six metals. According to the findings, the amounts of the heavy metals under study ranged from 0.192 to 0.387 g/g, 0.005 to 0.008 g/g, 0.0001 to 0.0055 g/g, (0.45 to 0.70 g/g), (0.010 to 0.20 g/g), and (0.17 to 0.54 g/g), respectively, for Hg, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Fe. Some metal concentrations were much below the acceptable limits established by the WHO and FAO. Additionally, a chemical analysis of the samples revealed that the tuna was in acidic conditions (pH 4.8–6.9), had a salinity range of 1.36–1.90%, a protein percentage of 18.58–20.45, and a moisture content of 55.5–69.3 percent. The overall bacterial count was determined by microbiological examination to be (1 101 - 3.7 101 cfu/g). But none of the examined samples had the dangerous diseases Escherichia coli or Salmonella.