Arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) in northwest Croatian seafood: A health risks assessment

Luka Traven; Sandra Marinac-Pupavac; Paula Žurga; Željko Linšak; Sandra Pavičić Žeželj; Marin Glad; Dijana Tomić Linšak; Arijana Cenov

doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.10.012

Arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) in northwest Croatian seafood: A health risks assessment

Toxicol Rep. 2023 Oct 24:11:413-419. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.10.012. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Luka Traven^{1

2}, Sandra Marinac-Pupavac², Paula Žurga², Željko Linšak^{1

2}, Sandra Pavičić Žeželj^{1

2}, Marin Glad^{1

2}, Dijana Tomić Linšak^{1

2}, Arijana Cenov^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20/1, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
² Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Primorsko-goranska county, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.

Abstract

This study focuses on the health risk assessment of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) concentrations in seafood species commonly consumed in the northwestern region of Croatia. By measuring the concentrations of these elements coupled with data on seafood consumption, the health risks were evaluated using Target Hazard Quotients and Hazard Indexes. The results indicate a slightly increased health risks linked to seafood consumption for As, Cu and Zn in some of the tested seafood species. The findings of this study highlight the critical need for stronger food quality control measures, especially targeting certain types of seafood.

Keywords: Hazard index; Health risk assessment; Seafood; Target hazard quotient; Trace metals.