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This paper presents and discusses the levels and temporal trends of concentrations of Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, and As in livers and Hg in the muscle tissues of cod (Gadus morhua L) from the Baltic Sea during the period 1994-2010. Concentrations of Pb, Hg, and Cd exhibited significant downward trends. Cu and Zn concentrations exhibited upward trends in the period 1994 to 2010. No trends were detected for concentrations of As. The temporal trends identified in heavy metal concentrations in cod livers corresponded to the directions of changes in concentrations of these elements introduced into the Baltic Sea via river runoff and atmospheric emission, and those in surface and deep waters of the Baltic. Downward trends in the concentrations of toxic metals in cod livers suggest that advantageous changes are occurring in concentrations of heavy metals in the environment of the southern Baltic Sea.

This study determined the concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) in flounder from the southern Baltic for the 1996-2003 period. Analysis of more than 200 samples was used to determine the following: (1) concentrations of Hg and As in muscle tissue of flounder from different regions of the southern Baltic; (2) concentrations of Hg in the muscle tissue of flounder of different sizes; and (3) temporal trends in the concentrations of trace metals during the 1996-2003 period. A positive correlation between fish length and Hg concentration was noted. Further, the concentrations of Hg and As in flounder were correlated with sampling site. The most heavily polluted region of the Polish Baltic zone was the eastern region of the Baltic Sea. The temporal trend analyses showed significant downward trends in concentrations of Cd, Hg, and Pb in the flounder from the 1996-2003 period. Data suggest a decrease in the concentration of these elements in the environment of the Polish zone of the Baltic. It is noteworthy that no upward trends were noted in the concentrations of trace metals in the fish studied. If the flounder selected for the study are recognized as bioindicators of environmental pollution, then it is possible to conclude that the changes in trace metals concentrations in the Polish zone of the Baltic Sea are being reduced.

The content of macroelements (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium potassium and sodium) and microelements (copper, zinc, iron, manganese, chromium, selenium, fluorine and iodine) in the following smoked fish: sprat, mackerel, salmon, smoked herring and trout were determined. The most of calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper and manganese contain smoked sprat. The amount of calcium in fish's remaining species is considerably lower, and phosphorus approximated to his content in sprat. The selenium and the fluorine occur on approximate level in all examined fish, however the amount of iodine was diverse but high. Smoked salmon and trout contain the most iodine, and the least smoked herring, sprat and mackerel. Contribution of fish in the recommended daily intake for mineral elements was estimated.

The content of macro- and microelements and toxic metals in the most popular canned sprat was described in this paper. The research included the following canned sprat: sprat in tomato, smoked and steamed sprat in oil. The following analyses were carried out: content of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, chromium, selenium, fluorine, iodine, cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic. Fluorine, iodine, selenium, and calcium and phosphorous are provided to customer organism in large amount by canned sprat, however canned sprat cannot be considered as a source of copper, chromium, and manganese. On the base of assessment data one canned sprat (weight 170 g) provides to customer organism more than 50% recommended daily intake of calcium and phosphorus, 85-233% fluorine, 62.5% iodine, 43% recommended selenium, more than 25% zinc, about 15% daily intake of magnesium, potassium and iron. It was found that all of the analyzed canned sprat contained relatively low content of cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic, thus confirming the established safety standards.