Human health risk assessment from arsenic exposure after sea bream (Sparus aurata) consumption in Aegean region, Turkey

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the amount of arsenic in the muscular tissues of wild sea breams, sea breams cultured in soil ponds and sea breams cultured in off-shore marine cage systems in the Aegean Region of Turkey. Then an estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) based risk assessment by sea bream consumption in terms of arsenic was performed for both children and adults. The arsenic concentrations in the muscular tissues of fish were detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method after digestion by microwave wet burning. According to the results obtained, the highest average arsenic concentration was found in sea bream cultured in soil pond while the lowest was determined in off shore marine cultured sea bream. The arsenic concentrations determined in all fish groups were found out to be below 1 mg.kg–1 wet weight which is the international legal limit. Also the EDI values determined for children and adults were lower than 0.30 ?g/kg/day, the oral reference doses (RfDo) value for arsenic and THQ value was found out to be lower than the value assessed as potentially carcinogenic. Summarising, the results of this study do not underline any potential risk in term of arsenic deriving from consumption of sea bream cultured and caught in Aegean Sea. © 2016, Trakia University. All Right Reserved.