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

The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of selected metal concentrations (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 the south-eastern Caspian Sea, in order to assess health risk to the human via fish consumption by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 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 concentrations high value of Pb (in the muscle of L. auratus) and Fe for all fish is alarming and do present an appreciable hazard risk for human health.