Risk assessment of mercury due to consumption of kutum of the Caspian Sea (Rutilus frisii kutum) in Mazandaran Province

Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metal which can enter the human body mainly through consumption of seafood contaminated with mercury. In this study, the human health risk due to consumption of kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum), in the Caspian Sea, were evaluated by measuring the concentration of mercury in muscle samples using Atomic absorbtion spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer FIAS-100) and cold vapor technique. A total of 60 fresh kutum were collected by local fisherman from 12 stations on the southern coast of Caspian Sea in Mazandaran province. The average concentration of mercury in kutum muscle was 0.112 μg/g of fresh weight 0.382 μg/g dry weight) which was less than the allowable amount for human consumption determined by the international organizations such as USEPA, WHO, FAO and the FDA. HQ Index was below 1 (0.48). Also, the calculations indicated that daily and weekly mercury uptake for Iranian consumers, according to FAO (the amount consumed per capita) is lower than the guide values (PTWI and PTDI) provided by WHO, USEPA and JECFA. Therefore, the consumption of the kutum is not a serious threat to the consumer’s health and a consumption permitted rate of 62 g is recommended.