Content of Trace Elements and Human Health Risk Assessment via Consumption of Commercially Important Fishes from Montenegrin Coast

Neda Bošković; Danijela Joksimović; Oliver Bajt

doi:10.3390/foods12040762

Content of Trace Elements and Human Health Risk Assessment via Consumption of Commercially Important Fishes from Montenegrin Coast

Foods. 2023 Feb 9;12(4):762. doi: 10.3390/foods12040762.

Authors

Neda Bošković¹, Danijela Joksimović¹, Oliver Bajt^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro, Put I Bokeljške Brigade 68, 85330 Kotor, Montenegro.
² National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Fornače 41, 6330 Piran, Slovenia.
³ Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport, University of Ljubljana, Pot pomorscakov 4, 6320 Portoroz, Slovenia.

Abstract

Muscle tissues of Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius were analyzed for the presence of selected trace elements (As, Hg, Cd, and Pb) to determine the value of the daily intake of trace elements from fish consumption and to assess the risk to human health. The mean concentrations of As in the muscle tissue of M. barbatus and M. merluccius for the entire period were 19.689 mg/kg wet weight (ww) and 8.356 mg/kg ww, Hg 0.497 mg/kg ww and 0.153 mg/kg ww, and Pb 0.031 mg/kg ww and 0.025 mg/kg ww, respectively. The concentrations of Cd in all fish sampled were below the detection limit (<0.02 mg/kg ww). The evaluation of the potential health risk assessments based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) and estimated daily intake (EDI) indicated that the intake of As in both fish species and Hg for M. barbatus could pose an appreciable risk to human health. The calculated hazard index (HI) was higher than 1 for both fish species. The continuous monitoring of trace elements' concentrations in fish is strongly recommended, as the results demonstrate potential health risks due to the presence of As and Hg.

Keywords: Adriatic Sea; Merluccius merluccius; Montenegro; Mullus barbatus; human health risk assessment; trace elements.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Ministry of Science of Montenegro, PROMIS (No. 3173) and co-funded by the Slovenian Research Agency, ARRS Research Program P1-0237.