Variations in Toxic Metal Levels of Two Fish Species, Pomatomus saltatrix and Dicentrarchus labrax, and Risk Estimation for Children

Abstract

The concentrations of five toxic metals were monthly determined in two fish species, obtained from fish markets in Turkey during 2010-2011. For the determinations, AAS and ICP-AES were used. The obtained lead concentrations for all studied Pomatomus saltatrix (mean 635 mu g center dot kg(-1)) and Dicentrarchus labrax (mean 463 mu g center dot kg(-1)) samples were found to be significantly higher than the maximum allowances concentration (MAC) of 300 mu g center dot kg(-1). Mean chromium (324 mu g center dot kg(-1)) and Cu (940 mu g center dot kg(-1)) concentrations in Pomatomus saltatrix were higher than in Dicentrarchus labrax (268 mu g Cr center dot kg(-1) and 600 mu g Cu center dot kg(-1)) while Ni in Pomatomus saltatrix (216 mu g center dot kg(-1)) was lower in Dicentrarchus labrax (291 mu g center dot kg(-1)). The estimated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks by the Target Hazard Quotient and target carcinogenic risk indicate that there are no sytemic effects, and the risk of developing cancer over a human lifetime is between 2 similar to 9 in 1 000 000.