Risk assessment of trace elements in selected imported frozen fish fillet in Jordanian market

ABSTRACT

Excessive exposure to trace elements is associated with occurrence of a wide range of undesirable health effects. This study aimed at monitoring the concentrations of some trace elements in imported frozen fish fillet samples obtained from food retail stores in Jordan. In this study, 30 frozen fish fillet samples(Pangasiushypophthalmus)were collected and analysed for aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn) using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The measured concentrations of these elements were used to calculate the possible health risk in Jordanian people. The concentrations of elements were such that Sn > Al > Zn > Cu > As > Hg, with Al was higher than those reported in the literature and As was higher than the maximum permissible levels. The THQ for Alwas 83.6, a value ≫1, making non-carcinogenic effects significant to the adult population. Cancer risk factor for As was 3.84 × 10⁻⁴, a value of 38.4 fold above the acceptable lifetime carcinogenic risk (10⁻⁵). The results of the current study suggest that consumption of imported frozen fish fillets were potentially dangerous for Jordanian consumers.

KEYWORDS:

• Trace elements
• fish consumption limits
• health risk assessment
• carcinogenic risk
• non-carcinogenic risk
• ICP-OES

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the deanship of scientific research and graduate studies at Amman Arab University.