Abstract: Heavy metals, including Cd, Cr, Fe, Pb, Cu and Zn, in muscles, viscus and gills from six commonly consumed fish grown in the West of Liaoning Province were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after using microwave digestion techniques. Relative standard deviations (RSD) were 0.54%－2.03% and recovery were 94.0%－110.0%. The results indicated that Fe, Cu and Zn of fish accumulated the highest concentration in all tissues of the species, while Cd, Cr, Pb accumulated the lowest levels. The heavy metal concentration in viscus and gills were higher than those in muscles. The concentration of Cr, Zn and Cu were below the maximum levels of national regulation. The concentrations of Cd and Cr were excess the maximum levels of national regulation, but lower than provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). Current investigation indicates that fish from the West of Liaoning Province are safe for consumption, but necessary to reduce amount of intake.

Key words: fish, heavy metals, provisional tolerable weekly intake