Determination of heavy metal levels in fish consumed in Kahramanmaraş

In this study, 10 different fish species (carp (Cyprinus carpio), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), European barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), bogue (Boops boops), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and red mullet (Mullus barbatus)) were purchased at the fish market of Kahramanmaraş. For each species, five samples were collected and the concentrations of 11 elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined in muscle tissue of fish samples. According to the results obtained in the study, the highest average Al (1.45 mg/kg) concentration in gilthead seabream, the highest average As (50.34 mg/kg) concentration in red mullet, the highest average Cd (0.0078 mg/kg) concentration in rainbow trout, the highest average Co (0.1 mg/kg) concentration in Mediterranean horse mackerel, the highest average Cr (0.076 mg/kg), Cu (0.9 mg/kg), Fe (21.36 mg/kg), Mn (2,023 mg/kg) and Zn (48,84 mg/kg) concentrations in European anchovy, the highest average Ni (0,234 mg/kg) concentration in carp, the highest average Pb (0,107 mg/kg) concentration in Atlantic salmon were detected. In this study, human health risk assessment methods were used in relation to metal levels determined in fish species. For this, estimated daily intake (EDI) values of metals were calculated and compared with tolerable daily intake (TDI) values or reference dose values (RfD). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values were calculated to determine the non-cancer health risks of metals. Cancer risk (CR) was also calculated for inorganic arsenic by using cancer slope factor. The EDI values of the 11 metals entering the human body from ingestion of the fish species examined were determined not to exceed the TDI or RfD values. In addition, the THQ and HI values of the metals determined in fish species were lower than the threshold value of 1. This shows that there are no health risks for non-cancer. CR values for all fish species except red mullet were found within the acceptable range. Therefore, according to CR results, people who are exposed to inorganic arsenic as a result of consumption of red mullet are at risk of developing cancer.