Heavy metal levels in muscle tissues of some fish species caught from north-east Mediterranean: Evaluation of their effects on human health

Sixteen different fish species were sampled from six sampling stations selected between Tasucu (Mersin) and Samandag (Hatay) at North-East Mediterranean coasts of Turkey between March and May 2018. Mean muscle levels of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sn and Pb for fish species obtained from all sampling stations were 2.15-7.10, < 0.0002 - 0.39, < 0.001 - 19.02, < 0.0006 - 0.50, < 0.0006 - 0.74, 3.82-55.05, 1.08-15.06, < 0.0004 - 0.92 and < 0.0003 - 0.06 mg kg(-1). wet weight respectively. Cadmium levels in muscle tissues of all the species studied were below detection limits. Mean muscle level of each metal was calculated for each station by keeping the human consumption in mind, weekly tolerable limits, target hazard quotients and cancer risk assessment of the metals were firstly determined in fish species obtained from North-East Mediterranean. The amount of metal intake by the consumption of analyzed samples was found to be below weekly tolerable limits, however target hazard quotients and cancer risk levels for As were found above the limits stated by United States Environmental Protection Agency. Moreover, 20.93% and 27.91% of 43 fish specimen obtained from Erdemli station had higher Zn levels than those proposed by Turkish Food Codex and World Health Organization respectively.