HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN SEAFOOD

A contaminated aquatic environment may end up in the food chain and pose risks to human health. Seafood strengthens the immune system, prevents the absorption of chemicals and reduces the harmful effects of radioactive pollution, being indicated during chemotherapy and after excessive exposure to the sun. The objective of the current study was to investigate the levels of contamination with heavy metals of some seafood from Romanian fish market (octopus, shrimp, squid, rapana, mussels, cuttlefish). Studied heavy metals were chromium, manganese, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium and lead. Metals were analysed in the solutions obtained after digestion of samples, using Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry method (GF-AAS) and were found at ppm levels. The Pearson correlation analysis of metal concentrations for the studied marine organism species was calculated. In Europe, maximum levels for lead and cadmium are laid down in legislation, varying from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg for different seafood. Lead and cadmium founded in studied seafood did not exceed the maximum levels established by European legislation. No maximum levels for arsenic have been laid down in European legislation. In order to predict health risk assessment, the Estimated daily intake (EDI) of heavy metals was also calculated.