Heavy Metal Levels in Farmed and Wild Fishes of Aegean Sea and Assessment of Potential Risks to Human Health

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of Ag, Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in wild seabream (Sparus aurata), blotched picarel (Spicara maena), pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) fished from the Aegean Sea and the farmed seabream (Sparus aurata), and to assess the risks depending on their consumption by humans. A total of 40 fishes were collected and the metal levels were determined using ICP-OES. The metal levels were determined to be Ag (Nd), Al (3.20-8.87), Co (0.01-0.01), Cr (0.02-0.51), Cu (0.96-1.28), Fe (0.23-4.30), Mn (0.15-0.39), Ni (0.13-0.22), Pb (0.00-0.10) and Zn (6.18-7.30) (mg kg(-1) w.w.) in the study. No Ag or Cd were found in the samples. The heavy metal levels were below the national and international legal limits. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) method was used to determine the possible risks of the heavy metals on human health. THQ and TTHQ values were all less than 1 and it was concluded that they do not pose any risks in terms of human health.