Introduction: Heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems is considered a major environmental and public health concern because these elements can enter the human body through the food chain and cause adverse health effects.
Materials & Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals in the muscle tissue of four carp species, including common carp (Cyprinus carpio), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), from Shoushtar County, and to assess the health risk associated with their consumption. In this study, the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn) were measured in fish samples.
Results: The results indicated that all examined metals were detectable in the muscle tissues of the studied fish species; however, their accumulation levels varied among species. Among the analyzed elements, zinc and iron exhibited the highest concentrations, whereas cadmium showed the lowest levels. Statistical analysis revealed significant interspecific differences in the concentrations of cobalt, iron, mercury, manganese, molybdenum, lead, and zinc (P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and tin. The measured metal concentrations were compared with the maximum permissible limits provided by the Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) as well as the European Commission (EC) regulations for contaminants in fish. Health risk assessment based on hazard indices indicated that, in most cases, the estimated risks were within acceptable limits. Nevertheless, long‑term and frequent consumption of these fish species may increase the potential cumulative risk associated with certain heavy metals.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of heavy metals in aquatic environments and edible fish species in the region, as well as effective management of pollution sources to protect both ecosystem integrity and consumer health. |
