Abstract
Background: This study purposed to assess the health risks of heavy metals including nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in three widely-consumed fish from the coast of Bandar Abbas (Persian Gulf) and to determine the maximum amounts allowed for consumption according to the degree of contamination. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer and fall of 2013. Thunnus tonggol and Liza klunzingeri were selected from the Bandar Abbas market, and Pleuronectiformes were caught from the sea. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. Risk assessment and allowable consumption levels were determined according to methods provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Results: The highest average levels of Ni and Cr in Thunnus tonggol were 0.059 and 0.234 (μg/g dry weight), respectively. The highest average level of Hg in Pleuronectiformes was 0.095 (μg/g dry weight), and the highest average level of Pb in Liza klunzingeri was 0.006 (μg/g dry weight). The target hazard quotient (THQ) for all analyses of metals in the studied species and the hazard index (HI) were less than 1 for all three species. Conclusion: The results showed that despite Ni, Cr, Hg, and Pb pollution, the consumption of up to 4 (kg/d) of Thunnus tonggol by adults and up to 2.2 (kg/d) by children does not cause health problems in terms of the tested heavy metals. For Liza klunzingeri, these levels are 7.32 and 4.02 (kg/d), respectively.
Highlights
The presence of heavy metals in the environment is a cause for major concern
The amount of heavy metals in fish The concentrations of Ni, Cr, Hg, and Pb were tested in the muscles of three species of fish (Thunnus tonggol, Liza klunzingeri, and Pleuronectiformes) collected from the Bandar Abbas coast during the summer and autumn of 2013
In order of concentration amounts of Cr and Ni, the fish species are ranked as Thunnus tonggol > Pleuronectiformes > Liza klunzingeri; in terms of the amount of Hg they are ranked as Pleuronectiformes > Thunnus tonggol > Liza klunzingeri
Summary
The presence of heavy metals in the environment is a cause for major concern. Even at low concentration levels, they can cause problems as a result of toxicity and their tendency to permeate the food chain [1]. This study purposed to assess the health risks of heavy metals including nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in three widely-consumed fish from the coast of Bandar Abbas (Persian Gulf) and to determine the maximum amounts allowed for consumption according to the degree of contamination. Risk assessment and allowable consumption levels were determined according to methods provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Conclusion: The results showed that despite Ni, Cr, Hg, and Pb pollution, the consumption of up to 4 (kg/d) of Thunnus tonggol by adults and up to 2.2 (kg/d) by children does not cause health problems in terms of the tested heavy metals.
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