Ninety random samples of imported canned fish products represented by canned tuna, sardine and
mackerel (30 of each) were purchased within their validity dates from different supermarkets located in
Menoufia Governorate. Each sample was kept in a separate sterile plastic bag and transferred to the
laboratory in an insulated ice box as quickly as possible. All collected samples were examined for
detection of their contents of heavy metal residues to evaluate their quality according to standard
legislations. The obtained results revealed that the average concentration of lead (mgkg) in the
examined samples of canned tuna, sardine and mackerel were 0.13± 0.01, 0.25± 0.01 & 0.42± 0.02 for
origin (A) and 0.19± 0.01, 0.33± 0.02 and 0.51± 0.03 for origin (B). On the other hand, the mean values
of the concentration of mercury (mgkg) in the examined samples of canned tuna, sardine and mackerel
were 0.49± 0.02 , 0.63± 0.03 &1.06 ±0.04 for origin (A) and 49.25± 4.39 , 66.53± 7.04 and 85.76± 8.12
for origin (B), respectively. The public health significance of such serious pollutants and some
recommendations to avoid contamination of imported canned fish products were discussed.