Assessment of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels in commercial marine fish organs between wet markets and supermarkets in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Most investigations on heavy metals content in fish were either conducted on single markets, ports,seaside markets or direct sampling from natural habitat, and there were very few studies done on fish samples from both wet markets and supermarkets. This paper presents the assessment outcome of Cd and Pb levels in commercial fish sold between wet markets and supermarkets in Klang Valley, Malaysia. In this study, the organs of four commercial fish species (Rastrellinger kanagurta, Epinephelus sexfasciatus, Lates calcarifer, and Decapterus maruadsi) sampled from different markets within the sampling area were assessed using dry ashing-acid digestion method and Flame AAS. Results obtained concluded that Cd and Pb in fishes sampled from supermarkets are generally higher compared to wet markets, while both metals content in the edible organs fall well within the permissible limits for human consumption when compared to the Fourteenth Schedule of the Malaysian Food Regulations 1985.