Determination of muscle tissue consumption of Cyprinus Carpio fish based on Hazard index of non-essential heavy metals

Heavy metals have a long half-life in the environment. They have the ability to transfer into the food chain. Therefore, their increase (because of mainly discharge of wastewater to aquatic ecosystems) is important for fish and other aquatic organisms. Due to the importance of Cyprinus Carpio fish in food basket of the people in the north part of Iran, this study intends to determine the amount of consumption of this fish without hazards to health, based on the amounts of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and total mercury (Hg) in the muscle tissue of Cyprinus Carpio fish. 45 fish samples were collected at several fishing seines cooperation in the eastern part of the southern Caspian Sea. After the preparation of the muscle tissue, the amounts of Pb, Cd and Hg were measured by atomic absorption instrument. The heavy metals concentration was in order of: Hg >Pb>Cd. Mean concentration (±SE) of Pb, Cd and Hg were obtained 0.089±0.01, 0.013±0.002 and 0.411±0.09 μg/g.dw, respectively. The accumulation of lead, cadmium and total mercury in the muscle tissue of Cyprinus Carpio were in the range of EC, WHO, FDA and FAO safety standard levels. Target Hazard Quotation (THQ) indicated that all metals were in standard threshold in muscle tissue of Cyprinus Carpio and Hazard Index (HI) was recorded below the hazard level. Based on this study, consuming 123 grams per week of muscle tissue of Cyprinus Carpio for adult person do not lead to significant health risk