Heavy metal content in perch and rudd tissues and associated health risk assessment

Fish meat is recommended for consumption as a source of protein, essential unsaturated fatty acids, and fat-soluble vitamins, unfortunately it can also be a source of dangerous contaminants. The aim of the study was to assessment the level of Zn, Cu and Pb in water and bottom sediments collected in summer and autumn from the Koronowo Reservoir and the Wierzchucińskie Duże Lake and in the tissues of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and rudd (Scardinius erythrophtalmus L.) for health risk assessment of potential consumers. Metals accumulated in the tissues in the following order: meat, liver and gills: Zn > Cu > Pb. Of the four factors taken into account, such as: type of tissue, fish species, catching season and place of catching, the first one determined the degree of metal accumulation to the greatest extent. The high level of Pb in muscle tissue was determined by the content of this metal in tissue collected from rudd from Wierzchucińskie Duże Lake in the summer (0.383 mg kg⁻¹ ww). The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Pb, Zn and Cu in all tissues of analysed fish was much higher from water than from sediments. The highest value of metal pollution index (MPI) in the meat (1.42), liver (12.97), and gills (8.49) was calculated for summer-caught fish. The research indicated that consumption of 100 g of fish meat could meet daily requirement for Zn up to 26.3 % and for Cu in 16.4 %. The potential risk of Pb consumption according to RDA is as much as 2.4 %.