Abstract
Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead constitute a serious threat to human health. Generally, regular consumption of fish is recommended because it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been associated with health benefits. However, flesh of some fish species contains heavy metals in high concentration, which may pose health risk for individuals that consume them in significant quantities. Therefore, over the last few years, evaluation of heavy metals in fish has become a matter of great global concern and especially in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The aim of the present work was toassess the concentration of the most toxic heavy metals present in fish caught along the eastern and western coasts of Saudi Arabia, which was achieved through several studies. Results yielded by analyzing 73 fish species and 1,027 edible fish part samples from 12 sampling sitesrevealed considerable variation in metal concentrations across the sampling locations and fish species. Amounts of some of heavy metals were below the maximum allowed limit. Moreover, high hazard index (HI > 10) was obtained for the consumption of some fish species caught at specific sites, which indicates a high probability of consuming populations experiencing adverse health effects.
Highlights
Fish seems to be the perfect healthy food, since many species are rich in the polyunsaturated fatty acid Omega3, which is widely acclaimed as beneficial the human health and optimal heart functioning
The calculated Hazard Index (HI) values reveal that arsenic presents the greatest risk for adverse health effects (HI > 10) for high and average consuming populations of Epinephelus Tauvina and Cuttle fish species caught in Djeddah and coastal area of Bahrain sites, respectively
The intake of trace elements, especially heavy metals, through fish consumption has become of high concern for human health
Summary
Fish seems to be the perfect healthy food, since many species are rich in the polyunsaturated fatty acid Omega, which is widely acclaimed as beneficial the human health and optimal heart functioning. Exposure to heavy metals might be linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) issues in young population, i.e., infants and children, according to one study published in the Journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (Stratakis et al, 2016) To avoid these adverse effects, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggested that pregnant and breastfeeding women limit consumption of fish species that contain the highest levels of mercury, such as swordfish (Xiphias gladius), shark, tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) and kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla) (Burger, 2009; Lando and Lo, 2014). All the reported data are discussed and subjected to the standard Risk Assessment (RA) approach, which comprises of four standard steps, i.e., (1) Hazard Identification; (2) Hazard Characterization; (3) Exposure Assessment and (4) Risk Characterization
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
