Arsenic and Other Trace Elements in Five Edible Fish Species in Relation to Fish Size and Weight and Potential Health Risks for Human Consumption

The main objectives of study were to determine the concentrations of As and other trace elements (Al, Co, Fe, Ni, Sn, Se) in the muscle, liver, and gills of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), catfish (Silurus glanis), and pike (Esox lucius), and in the muscle of Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) and freshwater bream (Abramis brama), to identify relationships between element concentrations and total length and weight of the examined fish and studies of potential impact of contaminated fish consumption on human health. In the present study, the highest concentrations of As (0.004 mg·kg), Sn (0.154 mg·kg), and Co (0.053 mg·kg) were observed in the liver of pikeperch. The highest concentrations of Ni (0.051 mg·kg) and Fe (162.17 mg·kg) were observed in gills and liver of pike, respectively, while the highest concentrations of Al (22.65 mg·kg) and Se (0.509 mg·kg) were observed in gills and liver of catfish, respectively. Freshwater bream diverged from the other four species based on element concentrations in muscle, while catfish diverged from the other predator species based on element concentrations in gills. This indicates that the element levels detected in organs seem to reflect the pollution level of sediment and its biota, rather than the prevailing pollution state of the water. We recorded the most correlations between element accumulation and fish size and weight in the tissues of pike, which could probably be explained by life histories, as well as by habitat of this species. Meat of studied species should be safe for utilization in human diet.