Potential health risks due to heavy metal uptake via consumption of Thunnus thynnus from the northern Levantine Sea

Abstract

The potential human health risks of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in Thunnus thynnus from the northern Levantine Sea were assessed. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of metals were found as 0.819 for Cu, 8.344 for Zn, 2.102 for As, 0.002 for Cd, 0.001 for Hg and 0.115 for Pb. Even though these values were below the permitted levels, 11% of the samples contained Pb above the limits. Estimated weekly intakes were conspicuously lower than the PTWI values. The target hazard quotients (THQs) of each metal and total THQ of combined metals remained well below 1, showing no public health risk for an average consumer.