Mercury Contamination in Tigertooth croaker, Otolithes ruber (Teleostei, Sciaenidae), Fish of the Northwestern Persian Gulf with an Emphasis on Human Health Risk

This research aims to determine the mercury (Hg) in the muscle and liver tissues of Otolithes ruber species and its human health risk assessment due to its consumption.

In this study thirty fish samples were taken from the Imam Khomeini port in northwest of the Persian Gulf, in July. Then, the total mercury was measured by the Mercury Advanced Analyzer (254 AMA manufactured by Leco).

The mean concentrations of Hg in the muscle of O. ruber species were 0.112± 0.015 µg.g-1 d.w that were below the limits for fish proposed by WHO, FAO, USEPA, FDA and MAFF and the mean concentrations of Hg in the liver tissues were 0.714± 0.113. µg.g-1 d.w. Value of muscle/liver ratio was about 0.16 that revealed high contamination of the region with the mercury element. EDI and EWI lower than PTDI and PTWI and THQ<1.00 showed that the consumption of the mentioned fish will not pose an acute risk to the health of the consumers. Based on CRlim and CRmm in the studied fish for different human groups, a potential human health risk was identified for children.

In general, the main conclusion of this work showed that there is no serious warning or prohibition against consuming this fish by adults, however it should be mentioned that the risk assessment caused by the presence of other heavy elements as well as organic pollutants in O. ruber fish can have an impact in determining the permissible limit of consumption of this species.