Total mercury concentration in the muscle of four mostly consumed fish and associated human health risks for fishermen and non-fishermen families in the Anzali Wetland, Southern Caspian Sea

Abstract

Total mercury (T-Hg) content of muscle of four mostly-consumed fish, including Sander lucioperca, Esox lucius linnaeus (carnivorous) Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus gibelio (omnivorous) was investigated in Anzali Wetland (Southern Caspian Sea) in September 2020. A total of 600 fish samples (10 sampling points × 4 species × 15 replicates) were collected from the Anzali Wetland, and T-Hg of muscle was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Human health risk was evaluated using target hazard quotient (THQ), estimated daily intake (EDI), permissible daily intake (CRlim), monthly meals (CRmm), and provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI). T-Hg content of edible tissues in S. lucioperca, E. lucius linnaeus, C. carpio, and C. auratus gibelio were 149.93 ± 8.46, 165.17 ± 4.37, 78.92 ± 8.83, and 60.71 ± 5.51 ng/g ww, respectively. Fish muscle mercury content did correlate with the length and weight of studied species (p ˂ 0.01). EDI, THQ and PTDI did not exceed the permissible values (< 1) in all studied fish species and human groups. However, children and women in both fishermen and non-fishermen families received more hazards than adults, especially those ate S. lucioperca, E. lucius linnaeus as carnivorous fish. The lowest CRlim and CRmm were for children (0.01 kg/day) and females (5.11 per month), who consumed E. lucius linnaeus, respectively. Such findings warn and create awareness about the contaminated fish of the Anzali Wetland and potential health risks for fish consumers in fishermen families considered. In essence, the Anzali Wetland has been polluted with mercury-related compounds due to anthropogenic activities and fish species are being highly-contaminated threatening the health status of fish consumers in this region.