The mineral content of fish muscles as an indicator of water quality in Baltic and Scandinavian areas

Fish are an important part of the diet of the people living in Baltic and Scandinavian countries, providing valuable nutrients, including minerals.The levels of metals detected in the muscle suggest that these fish are capable of concentrating and bioaccumulating metals in their bodies from the aquatic environment.The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of selected micro-and macroelements in the muscles of five fish species: herring (Clupea harengus L.), wolffish (Anarhichas L.), salmon (Salmo salar L.), cod (Gadidae L.), mackerel (Scomber L.) from the Baltic Sea and Scandinavian regions.The analyses were performed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).The results showed significant differences in element content between the fish from both regions.Higher concentrations of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron were found in the fish from the Baltic Sea region, while higher levels of zinc were observed in some species from Scandinavian waters.The levels of toxic metals were below the permissible standards, indicating no risk to consumer health.Differences in the mineral composition of fish may reflect both diverse environmental conditions and biological factors, such as species affiliation.Due to the observed diversity and increasing anthropogenic pressure on aquatic ecosystems, it is advisable to continue monitoring elements in fish as potential indicators of aquatic environmental quality.