Trace Element Risk Assessment for the Consumption of Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793) from the mid-South Black Sea Coastline

This study aims to evaluate the metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, As, Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn) contamination in Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793) caught in the Sinop region of the Black Sea and the health risk to consumers. These eight metals were measured with an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP-MS) in the edible tissues of S. sarda sampled during the September-December 2020 fishing season. Statistical analysis revealed that metal accumulation depends on the size. Large fish have been found to accumulate more metals than small fish. The results showed that the element concentrations in edible tissues of all S. sarda of the southern Black Sea were lower than the maximum allowable levels under European and Turkish regulations. The average weekly intake of tested metals per body weight did not exceed the established provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). Target hazard quotient (THQ) and target hazard index (THI) were used to find out the non-carcinogenic health hazards as well as the cancer risk index (RI). The findings indicate that S. sarda specimens from the Black Sea are safe to eat, and the risk of health problems connected with non-carcinogenic effects is still very minimal for infants, children, and adults who consume them on a regular basis.