Determination of the concentration of selected heavy metals in infusions of seahorse, hippocampus spinosissimus and hippocampus trimaculatus

Abstract

Sample of seahorse from two species, Hippocampus spinosissimus and Hippocampus trimaculatus were analysed for Cd, Cr, Cu. Pb and Hg concentrations. The research was done because seahorse has become a popular material used for Chinese traditional medicine (TCM). The objective was to find out whether these seahorses are safe for human consumption. The dried samples were digested using the nitric acid digestion method. Then, the samples were analysed for the metal concentration using the Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry. In the male seahorse samples of Hippocampus spinosissimus.