Assessment of human health risk for copper, arsenic, zinc, nickel, and mercury in marine fish species collected from Bulgarian black sea coast

Abstract

The aim of this study is to measure the levels of Cu, As, Zn, Ni and Hg found in muscle of three common fish species collected from the coast of Black Sea, Bulgaria and to determine their potential effects via calculation of the daily intake of metals and estimated weekly intake of metals. To estimate the human health risk, the target hazard quotients (THQ), was calculated. THQs for individual metals were lower than the guideline value of 1. Hazard Index of each trace element were lower than one suggesting that these pollutants perhaps pose no hazard to local residents. Target risk due to As (3.63x10-5 – 5.47 x10-5) and Ni (2.65x10-7 – 5.07 x10-7) exposure through fish consumption may not have the probability of contracting cancer over a long lifetime in future. More intensive studies are necessary in order to determine the toxic metals in fishes from this area of Black Sea.