48 / 2023-07-24 15:08:05

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Commercial Edible Fish Species in Selangor, Malaysia

Potentially toxic element (PTE), Eleutheronema tetradactylum, Parastromateus niger, Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Carcinogenic Risk (CR).

Due to detrimental effects on both marine environment and human health, the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) has heightened public concern. This research was focused on the content of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Ni in the tissue organs of local fourfinger threadfin and black pomfret which are highly consumed by Malaysians. The results revealed that the content of HMs was mainly found in the following order: Zn > Cu > Cd > Ni in both species from Kuala Selangor. While, the content of HMs decreased from Zn > Cu > Ni > Cd in fourfinger threadfin and Zn > Cd > Cu > Ni in black pomfret from Morib. By considering the HMs content as a bioindicator, the environmental concern in Morib was greater than in Kuala Selangor since both fish species sampled from Morib showed higher HMs content. Currently, with the average fish ingestion rate (FIR) 0.16 kg/person/day in Malaysia, the consumers faced a possible-moderate risk of cancer occurrence with carcinogenic risk value of Cd and Ni. However, the target hazard quotient of Cd in fourfinger threadfin and black pomfret at Morib and Kuala Selangor posed high chronic risk with regular basis of consumption. While ensuring adequate nutrition, this research suggested FIR of 0.08 kg/person/day which conducive to decrease the likelihood of chronic and carcinogenic diseases.