Mercury contamination of Raja species from coastal sea of bar region

The Adriaic Sea, as other seas and ocenas, have natural mechanisms to store, and in many cases, decompose natural or man made polutants and contaminants. Mercury is a metal which is released into the environment from the natural and anthropogenic sources. Once released, mercury undergoes a series of complex transformations and cycles between atmosphere, hydrosphere and pedosphere. Methyl mercury is a chemical form of mercury which is by far, the most common form in the food chain. Fish and fish products are the dominant source of methyl mercury in food. Methyl mercury is rapidly accumulated by most aquatic biota and attains its highest concentrations in fish who are at the top of the aquatic food chain. The aim of this research was to obtain data on mercury contamination in Raja fish, that are often used as a food in coastal region. The fish were sampled from three localities in Bar region: Volujica, Bar harbour and Sutomore. The mercury contamination was tested in muscle tissue, applying Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy by the Thermo Electron S2 AA System. Two species of Raja genus were present: Raja montagui and R. miraletus. All collected fish had mercury contamination in musscle tissue near or above the proposed levels by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006