The concentration of metals in the northern Adriatic anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus) and the sardine (Sardina pilchardus) from the northern Adriatic Sea, Croatia

Northern Adriatic anchovies (Engraulis encrasicholus) and the sardine (Sardina pilchardus), were sampled from catches landed at the Mirna Cannery in Rovinj, Yugoslavia (now Croatia), during the 1972 fishing season (June to December) and part of the 1973 fishing season (March to June).

Fish were usually caught using night light and purse seine 12-18 hours earlier, within 15-30 km of Rovinj. Each sample consisted of a minimum of six and up to sixty specimens of each species.

The standard length and weight of each fish was measured. Fish were then dissected into component parts: skin (including scales), gills, muscle, digestive tract, liver, kidney, gonads and brain. For each species, these components were then pooled according to type, weighed, dried to a constant weight at 110°C, ground to homogeneous meal in a porcelain mortar, and stored in a glass desiccator until analyzed.

After further processing, samples were analysed for mercury, copper, nickel, silver, cadmium and lead using a Perkin-Elmer 303 atomic absorption spectrophotometer.