Health risk assessment of trace metals Cu, Zn, Ni via the consumption of the prevailing bony fish Rutilus frisii kutum (Kamansky,1901), and Vimba vimba persa (Linnaeus, 1754) in Caspian sea

Heavy metals are one of the main groups of environmental pollutants; enter the aquatic environment through natural and human activities. These metals may accumulate in aquatic organisms including fish and be a potential danger to the health of the ecosystem and living organisms, especially for human beings. In this study, the amount of heavy metals including copper, zinc, and nickel was investigated in the muscle tissue of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii Kutum), and Caspian Vimba (Vimba vimba persa) from Bandar Anzali by atomic absorption. Mean concentrations of heavy metals including copper, zinc and nickel in dry weight of muscle tissue in Caspian kutum were 7.47 ±1.26, 18.96 ±1.49 and 2.68± 0.23, μg/g, respectively. These amounts were 10.41±2.26, 32.01 ±6.82, and 2.50 ± 0.30 ug in dry weight in the muscle of Caspian Vimba for the copper, zinc and nickel, respectively. The concentration of heavy metals in muscle tissue was less than the permitted concentration of international standards, except for nickel that was higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. Potential risk and hazard indicators were less than 1 for both age groups of adults and children, so there is not much danger to consumers. Due to the importance of the quality of fish used for the inhabitants of northern Iran, pollutants in the area, especially heavy metals, should be continuously monitored to control the amount of contaminants in consumer communities.