Metal Levels in Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus Aleev, 1956 and Their Health Risk Appraisal For Consumers

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the levels of Cd, Hg, Pb, As, Al, Cu, Fe and Zn in the muscles of Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus. The fish samples were collected from the Samsun coasts of the Black Sea between September and December in both 2021 and 2022 and were analysed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer. The metal values in the muscle tissues of horse mackerel were below the permissible values. Zn has the higher mean concentration (5.475 mg/kg wet weight (w.w.)) followed by Fe (mean concentration of 3.887 mg/kg w.w.) and Cu (mean concentration of 0.178 mg/kg w.w.) The Cd was found at the lowest (0.0077 mg/kg w.w.) mean concentration followed by Hg (0.0096 mg/kg w.w.), Pb (0.0453 mg/kg w.w.), and Al (0. 1077 mg/kg w.w.). The target hazard quotients (THQs) for individual metals and the total target hazard quotients (TTHQs) were