Potential risk of mercury to human health in muscle tissues of Sander luciopercan from south Caspian Sea

Fish is considered to be an important source of high quality proteins and other nutrients (long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-۳ and omega-۶ fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements) for people all over the world (۱-۴). Many health advantages have been documented of regular fish consumption, such as reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases and improved neurodevelopment (۵, ۶). Therefore, recently, per capita fish consumption has increased and Sea products play a considerable role in the food supply for people all over the world (۷). However, Sea products may also be contaminated by chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals. Since aquatic ecosystems receive a large amount of heavy metals, fish and other aquatic organisms are the main organisms to be affected by pollutants (۸). When the metals are released into aquatic environments, particles can absorb them via biogeochemical cycles which can caused to lethal or sub-lethal effects on the ecosystem (۹, ۱۰). With respect to the importance of the issue mention above and its dangers and complications, so many researchers have investigated the heavy metals in marine ecosystems all over the world (۱۱-۱۸). The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in world, with an area of ۳۷۸۴۰۰ km۲ and a basin volume of ۷۸۱۷۰ km۳, respectively (۱۹). It is lying between Europe and Asia and surrounded by five countries―Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Russia (۲۰). This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of Mercury (Hg) in the muscle tissues of Sander lucioperca and collected from Mazandaran, the Caspian Sea, Iran. Additionally, risk assessment of consumers to exposure to metals through fish consumption was estimated. Mercury has been measured by using Cold Vapor-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The mean concentration ± standard error was calculated to be ۰.۴۰ ± ۰.۰۳ (μgg-۱ dry weight) for the heavy element Mercury of Sander lucioperca’s muscle tissues.The hazard quotient values showed that consumption of the analyzed fish posed a health risk to consumers in some stations. The fishes contamination of some of the examined stations such as Nowshar station exceeded acceptable limits according to FAO, WHO, FDA, and EC indexes.Given the importance of these ecosystems to people around the world, we need to monitor and evaluate these areas every year.