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ORAL PRESENTATION / SÖZLÜ SUNUM

Determination of Certain Heavy Metals (Al, As, Cd, Cu, and Zn)
in Commercial Fish Feed Samples by ICP-OES

Adem TEKE

Kozlu Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, TÜRKİYE

Correspound Author: ademteke87@gmail.com

This monitoring study aimed to determine the concentrations of Aluminum (Al), Arsenic
(As), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) in commercial fish feed samples using the

ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry) technique. For this

purpose, 21 feed samples from different batches and with varying particle sizes were
collected from commercial fish farms. The feeds were oven-dried and ground to obtain a

homogeneous mixture. The samples were digested with nitric acid (HNO₃), followed by
quantitative analysis using the ICP-OES instrument. Calibration for each metal was

performed in the range of 0.5–7 ppm. The measurement results were evaluated both in
relation to the permissible limits stated in the relevant national legislation and from a

toxicological perspective. In all analyzed samples, the levels of As and Cd were found to be
below the acceptable limits set in the Regulation on Undesirable Substances in Animal Feed.

Although legal limits for Al, Cu, and Zn are not specified in the legislation, these metals were
detected at low concentrations. For all analyzed heavy metals, the concentrations in the

samples were within safe limits. Contamination of Al, As, and Cd in fish feed is generally

attributed to environmental and industrial sources. Cu and Zn, on the other hand, can also
originate from feed additives in addition to environmental and industrial inputs.

Accumulation of these metals in fish feed at toxic levels can adversely affect the growth and
reproduction of farmed fish. Moreover, they can enter the human food chain and pose health

risks. Therefore, large-scale monitoring studies are essential to track the levels of both toxic
and essential metals in fish feed.

Keywords: Fish Feed, Heavy Metals, Arsenic, Cadmium, Aluminum, Copper.

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