Health risk assessments of heavy metal concentrations via consumption of an invasive species, Carassius gibelio, from two large freshwater lakes of Türkiye

: Heavy metal toxicity is a significant threat to human health and the environment. Contamination of the food chain with heavy metals in water sources may impact the health of consumers adversely. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn in the invasive fish species Carassius gibelio inhabiting two important lakes in Türkiye: Lake Beyşehir and Lake Eğirdir, from the Lake District Region and assess any health risks posed by the consumption of these species. For this purpose, C. gibelio species were obtained from two lakes in dry and rainy seasons and heavy metal concentrations were determined via ICP-OES analyses. The Cd concentrations in the muscle samples obtained from both lakes were below the analysis limits. The mean heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg) in the Beyşehir and Eğirdir lake samples were found as Pb: 0.32, Cr: 0.09, Cu: 0.52, and Zn: 6.88 and Pb: 0.88, Cr: 0.08, Cu: 0.46, and Zn: 12.6, respectively. The average heavy metal concentrations in the muscle tissues were below the national/international legislation limits, and the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotients (THQs), total THQs (TTHQs), and carcinogenic rates (CRs) did not exceed these limits. The results suggested that the consumption of these invasive fish species from these two lakes might not pose any potential health risk for consumers. Transference values (TF) for the digestive tract were also calculated, and biomagnification was determined for Pb, Cd, and Cr. Risk assessment studies are very important in terms of evaluating the effects of fish consumption on human health via applying different indices. This is the first study in which heavy metal concentrations were determined simultaneously in Lake Beyşehir and Lake Eğirdir, and the public health risk of consuming their invasive fish species was estimated.