Health risk assessment of heavy metals associated with fish consumption in Edku region, Egypt

Abstract EN

Health risk assessment of exposure to heavy metals through fish consumption was carried out.

Heavy metals concentrations were monitored in ventral muscles of bolt fish ; Tilapia sp.

collected seasonally during 2006 / 2007.

Five geographic zones of Edku Lake were chosen for sampling, according to closeness to discharge points of pollutants effluents.

The highest mean values of metal concentrations were 1202.9, 57.6 and 3465.8 ppb for Pb, Cd, and Zn, respectively, during autumn.

While the levels were 1038.6 and 1036.0 ppb for Cu and Mn during winter and spring, respectively.

Checked metal concentrations were in values not exceeding the WHO permissible limits except for Zn and Mn.

Estimated risk was evaluated in correlation to fish consumption.

Chronic daily intakes (CDIs) based on 95th centile were 0.021, 0.0012, 0.032, 0.1117 and 0.0284 mg / kg / day for Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn, respectively.

On the other hand, Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) reached the highest value in case of Mn which found to be values of 5.68 and 2.42 based on 95 and 90th centile of fish consumption.

The lowest values, however, were 0.15 and 0.09 at 50 and 25th centile.

Generally, THQ of measured metals was greater than unity suggesting that adverse health effects may be associated with high fish consumption.