Heavy metal concentration in marine edible fishes and associated health risks: An assessment from Tamil Nadu coast, Bay of Bengal

To assess food safety, the edible portion (muscle tissue) of the 91 different species of marine fish was studied and analyzed for metal contents. The fish samples were collected during 2017–2018 from the southwestern Bay of Bengal region at Kalpakkam coast. The hierarchy of the metals in muscle tissue was in the order of Fe > Zn > Al > Cr > Ni > Mn > Cu > Pb > Co > Cd, as reported in studied fishes. Among fish species, Lates calcarifer (469.69 mg/kg dry weight (dw) and Siganus lineatus (64.74 mg/kg dw) had the highest and lowest total metal content in their muscle tissue. Fe & Zn together contributed ̴ 70% of the total metal content of 72 fish species. The observed elevated concentrations of Al (1.96–46.6, average: 20.39 mg/kg dw) and Cr (1.93–55.24, average: 15.2 mg/kg dw) in fish compared to other regions could be attributed to localized contamination. The PCA results suggested a higher accumulation of Al, Cd, Cu, & Zn, in pelagic-neritic fishes and Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, & Pb in demersal fishes in comparison to fishes occupying other habitats. The levels of metals in fish muscle are in compliance with the maximum regulatory limit specified for fish by the Food Safety and Standards of India (FSSAI), European Commission (EC), Joint Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), suggesting that the fishes are safe for human consumption. The non-carcinogenic (estimated daily intake; target hazard quotient, hazard index) and carcinogenic risk (target cancer risk) assessment performed indicated no apparent risk to the adult consumer.