Human health risk assessment of potentially toxic metals in fish (Cynoglossus sp.) commonly consumed in Nigeria

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In order to determine the concentrations of certain metals that may be hazardous in widely consumed fish species (Cynoglossus sp.) in Nigeria, atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used. The main objectives were to determine the most likely sources of these metals and assess the potential health concerns connected with consuming fish. Fish samples were collected from Sabo market, Ile-Ife, Osun state. They were digested using HNO3 and H2O2 and subjected to elemental analysis (Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Co, and Cr) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that Lead (Pb) had the lowest mean concentration of 0.56 ± 0.01 mg/kg, while Zinc (Zn) had the highest average concentration of 12.88 ± 0.18 mg/kg. Strong and substantial correlations between the studied metals were shown by the analysis of the correlation matrix and cluster patterns. The study also evaluated a number of health risk parameters, including target hazard quotient, estimated daily intake, and cancer risk, which together suggested that consuming these fish samples posed health concerns for both adults and children. According to relative risk, seafood consumption raises the most alarm about Cd levels. The study came to the conclusion that due to the propensity for these potentially hazardous metals to bioaccumulate, only a moderate amount of these fish samples should be consumed. Additionally, it is strongly advised to discourage the disposal of domestic and industrial wastes into water bodies.