Health risk assessment and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the Persian Gulf fishes (Bandar Length Coasts)

Abstract

Introduction: The Persian Gulf is one of the most important water ecosystems in the world, which has faced serious environmental threats in recent years. Due to their non-biodegradability, heavy metals represent a potential danger through accumulation in aquatic tissues and impact on human health as the final consumer. Therefore, investigating the accumulation of metals in the bodies of aquatic organisms and their entry into the body of consumers is considered the first step in monitoring the health of consumers. Materials & methods: The present study investigated the bioaccumulation of three metals Pb, Cd, and Cr in different organs of Pampus argenteus and Lutjanus johnii caught off the shores of Bandar Lange in the north of the Persian Gulf. Subsequently, the estimated daily and weekly intakes (EDI and EWI) for children and adults were calculated, along with the permissible consumption limits (CRLim and CRmm), and the potential risk of consuming these fish in relation to non-carcinogenic diseases (THQ). For this purpose, 30 specimens of each type of fish were prepared and chemically digested according to standard protocols. Results: The results indicated that the highest concentration of metals was found in the liver tissue of L. johnii, whereas the lowest concentration was in the muscle tissue of P. argenteus. The trend of metal accumulation in both species followed the order: Cr> Cd > Pb, noted consistently in the liver, gill, and muscle tissues. The study also found that the concentration of metals was higher in female fish than in males for both species. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for all metals were higher in L. johnii than in P. argenteus, which can be attributed to the greater reliance of L. johnii on bed sediments for their nutritional needs. Conclusion: A comparison of the metal concentrations in fish tissues with World Health Organization (WHO) standard suggested that the consumption of these two species does not pose a threat to consumer health. The EDI and EWI for metals in both adults and children, across both fish types, were significantly lower than the reference values. In addition, the THQ for individuals consuming these fish types is very low, indicating no significant danger to the consumers of these fishes. The results of the present study will provide a framework for wider studies on the effect of seafood consumption on the health of consumers.