Determination and Risk Evaluation of Heavy Metals in Fish Samples Using AAS After Microwave-Assisted Digestion

Abstract

The safety level and impacts of bioaccumulation of Cd, Hg and Pb various fish samples were determined in the present study. The accurate determination of the concentration of metals in fish samples is necessary due to the health risks associated with the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the human system through the ingestion of contaminated fish samples. AAS analysis was employed after microwave-assisted wet acid digestion. The results showed that frozen tuna has the highest concentration of mercury (157.09 ± 23.04 µg/kg), that is in line with the pattern of heavy metal accumulation of in fishes. Non-predatory fish samples, including bata (0.87 ± 0.01 µg/kg) and chapil (0.06 ± 0.01 µg/kg), had lower mercury levels. In all samples, the amount of Pb was lower than the level of Hg. Merluccius pacifia had the highest concentration of Pb (27.08 ± 0.00 µg/kg), whereas salmon (1.33 ± 0.15 µg/kg) and and basa fillets (1.51 ± 0.72 µg/kg) had the lowest concentrations of Pg. Cadmium was found to absent in all the fish samples examined. The results of the present study showed that environmental exposure and proximity to industrial effluents have impacts on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals. It was also observed that removing organs that have the potential to bioaccumulate heavy metals is one way to prevent heavy metal contamination, through appropriate handling and preparation techniques. The concentration of Pb and Hg were found below the EU limit. Mercluccius pacifica had the highest THQ for Pb (1.4), whereas tuna had the highest THQ for Hg (84.82). THQ greater than 1 for Hg was surpassed by more than 10 species, suggesting a health risk.