Heavy Metals in Muscle Tissue of Pterois volitans from the Veracruz Reef System National Park, Mexico

Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn) were measured in the muscle of 30 specimens of Pterois volitans, captured on April 2018, in the Veracruz Reef System National Park (VRSNP), Veracruz, Mexico. Concentrations, in the samples, were quantified with atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), after microwave digestion. Results of the mean concentration, in descending order were V = 7.3 ± 0.7; Pb = 0.66 ± 0.07; Zn = 0.43 ± 0.14; and Cd = 0.03 ± 0.01 mg kg(−1) dry weight. These values did not exceeded limits established in the Mexican National Standard (NOM-242-SSA1-2009), of Cd and Pb (0.5 mg kg(−1)) wet weight. This means that consumption of lionfish from this site does not pose a potential risk for human health.