Health risk assessment of selected heavy metals in some edible fishes from Gorgan Bay, Iran

The objective of this study was to assess the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr and Fe) in the muscles of five fish species (Sander lucioperca, Liza auratus, Alosa caspia, Cyprinus carpio and Liza saliens) from Gorgan Bay in the south-eastern Caspian Sea, in order to determine the value daily intake of heavy metals by consumption of fish and human health risk assessment. The concentration of metals was estimated using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. Potential health risk assessments based on estimated daily intake (EDI) values and target hazard quotient (THQ) indicated that the intakes of metals by consuming these fish species do not result in an appreciable hazard risk for the human body. The hazard index (HI) calculated was lower than 1 for all the species. However, the results indicate that the high concentrations of Pb (in the muscle of L. auratus) and Fe in all fish is alarming

Comparison of copper concentrations in liver and muscle of Squalius cephalus and Capoeta capoeta gracilis (Pisces: Teleostei) in Tajan River, Iran

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the concentration of copper (Cu) in liver and muscle of two fish species Squalius cephalus and Capoeta capoeta gracilis. The fish were caught in four sampling sites along Tajan River, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. The concentration of Cu was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between the sampling sites with regard to Cu concentration in both muscle and liver of fish species.Significant differences were also found (P<0.05) between S. cephalus and C. c. gracilis regarding Cu content in liver and muscle tissues. The content of Cu in the liver was greater (P<0.05) than that in the muscle in both species. Also, Cu content of liver in both species was higher than the standard limits declared by WHO. This study reports high loads of Cu in Tajan River and a high content of Cu in the muscle and liver of S. cephalus and C. c. gracilis