ABSTRACT Disposable electrochemical sensor for rapid measurement of heavy metals in fish by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) V. Meucci & L. Intorre & C. Pretti & S. Laschi & M. Minunni & M. Mascini Published online: 9 July 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009 Keywords Anodic stripping voltammetry . Digestion . Fish . Heavy metals Abbreviations AAS atomic absorption spectroscopy CRM certified reference material MRL maximum residue limits PTWI provisional tolerable weekly intake SPE screen-printed electrodes SWASV Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Introduction Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) are present in the aquatic environment and can accumulate in fish which, if consumed as food, can lead to toxic events in humans. The toxic risk of heavy metals in fish products has brought about a directive from the European Union 1881/2006 defining the maximum residue limits (MRL) of these contaminants in fish and molluscs. Although the levels of heavy metals in foodstuff from fish is generally lower than the MRL and the levels of exposure in humans are below the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), under certain circumstances, there is a risk that the consumption of fish and molluscs contaminated with heavy metals may lead to exposure that exceeds the PTWI (EFSA 2005). Vet Res Commun (2009) 33 (Suppl 1):S249–S252 DOI 10.1007/s11259-009-9289-1 V. Meucci (*) : L. Intorre Dipartimento di Clinica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Pisa, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy e-mail: vmeucci@vet.unipi.it C. Pretti Dipartimento di Patologia Animale Igiene e Profilassi degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Pisa, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy S. Laschi : M. Minunni : M. Mascini Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy