Assessment of metals by instrumental neutron activation analysis in six fish species consumed in the city of São Paulo

The objective of this work is to quantify the concentration of the metals As, Co, Cs, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Th, U and Zn in the muscles of six fish species (anchovy, brycon, catfish, hake, pacu and sardine). Metals characterization was performed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The elements determination was made by irradiation of approximately 150 mg of each sample (dry weight), during 16 hours at a neutron flux of 1012 n.cm-2.s-1 in the nuclear research reactor IEA-R1 of Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Most of the results for the metals concentration is low, exception for As and Zn in seawater fish and for Rb in river fish. The results obtained in this study can be used to ensure the quality of the fish consumed in the city of São Paulo.