Bioaccumulation and human health risk assessment of some heavy metals in sediments, Sparus aurata and Salicornia europaea in Gulluk Lagoon, the south of Aegean Sea

In the current study, it was aimed to determine the sediment in Sparus aurata (Linnaeus 1758) tissues and Salicornia europaea L. Cu, Zn Fe, Hg, Cd, Pb and Mn concentration distributions in Gulluk Lagoon which is located in the south of Aegean Sea and under the influence of anthropogenic activities by means of metal pollution and health indices and to investigate the effects of these metals on public health. The concentration range of Cu, Zn, Fe, Hg, Cd, Pb and Mn in sediment samples was determined as 12.16-26.00, 1.62-2.03, 7.77-8.36, 7.52-16.15, 0.071-0.40, 7.99-13.74 and 12.11-12.63 mg kg(-1), respectively. Cu and Hg concentrations in sediment were found to be higher than sediment quality guidelines standards. In addition, according to the enrichment factor (EF), Hg, Cd and Cu were found to show above moderate enrichment. Cu, Zn, Fe, Hg, Cd and Mn concentrations in S. aurata muscle tissue were 1.31 +/- 2.30, 1.01 +/- 0.24, 3.43 +/- 0.75, 2.79 +/- 0.85, 0.01 +/- 0.01 and 1.80 +/- 1.12 mg kg(-1), respectively. S. europaea heavy metals (HMs) concentrations were determined as Cu = 10.97 +/- 3.20, Zn = 0.74 +/- 0.62, Fe = 5.69 +/- 0.22, Hg = 9.62 +/- 8.84, Cd = 0.53 +/- 0.33, Pb = 0.22 +/- 0.26 and Mn = 8.61 +/- 0.14 mg kg(-1). It was seen that Hg in S. aurata muscle tissue and Hg in S. europaea concentrations exceeded the limit values determined for consumption purposes. Target hazard quotient (THQ) and total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) values were found to be < 1 for S. aurata and S. europaea. When all these results were considered, it was determined that the metals that could pose a potential ecological and health risk were Hg, Cd and Cu in the study area.