Potential risk assessment of trace metals accumulation in food, water and edible tissue of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farmed in Haraz River, northern Iran

Abstract

This study focuses on the extent of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb bioaccumulation in water, fish feed and the muscles of 40 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from four farmsalong Haraz River, Mazandaran Province, north of Iran. The dependence of bioaccumulation with food chain and environmental heavy metals concentration was specifically addressed. The potential human health risks due to consumption of rainbow trout have been assessed by estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) of aforementioned metals. The detected concentration ranges of the elements in the muscles, reported as μg.g⁻¹dry weight, were as following: Zn (13.92–15.92), Cu (0.54–0.74), Ni (0.12–0.26), Cd (0.008–0.01) and Pb (0.25–0.57). The rank order of the levels of the heavy metals was: in edible tissue Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd; in water Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cd; in fish feed Pb > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cd. In general, the concentrations of all target metals were positively correlated with fish feed contents, whereas negative correlations were observed between the metal concentrations and water. Risk assessments suggested that there isn’t potential ecological and human health risk.

Keywords:

• Oncorhynchus mykiss
• trace metals
• bioaccumulation
• risk assessment
• THQ
• EDI

Declaration of interest

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Financial support for this research project was provided by ShahidChamran University (Ahvaz, Iran) and University of Catania (Catania, Italy).