Tissue-specific trace elements concentration and human health risk assessment in three marine fish species from Visakhapatnam to Kakinada coasts

Purpose The current study was aimed to evaluate the bioaccumulation of elements (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn) in the gills, liver and muscle of three distinct marine fish species, namely Nemipterus japonicas, Upeneus vittatus and Pampus argenteus species were collected from Visakhapatnam to Kakinada coastal waters.
Methods The fish tissues were analyzed for trace metals using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). To ensure the quality control, reliability of the experimental validation, two certified reference materials (CRMs) procured from National Institute of Standards and Testing (NIST SRM 1577c-Bovine Liver) and European Commission-Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (ERMBB422-Fish muscle) were analyzed using EDXRF.
Results The evaluated estimated daily intake (EDI) values for each metal are below the reference dose levels established by World Health Organisation (WHO). The target hazard quotient (THQ) values of both the locations of the present study are lower than one (< 1) except for arsenic and the combined target hazard quotient (CTHQ) values are higher than one (> 1) showing the presence of health risk. The cancer risk (CR) factor value for arsenic was below the acceptable lifetime carcinogenic risk (10^–5). The levels of heavy metals varied significantly among three fish species and organs. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn were slightly higher than the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Turkish food codex and Brazilian Legislation standard levels. The findings of this study revealed that muscles possessed the lowest concentrations mostly of all the metals when compared with liver and gills.
Conclusion The study concluded that consumption of the muscle tissue may not pose severe health risk to human health but should be consumed moderately to prevent bioaccumulation of the metals especially As.