Heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Hg) content in four fish commonly consumed in Iran: risk assessment for the consumers.

In this study, concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Hg were determined in commercially valuable fish from Khuzestan shore, northwest of the Persian Gulf. It was also our intention to evaluate potential risks to human health associated with seafood consumption. The liver and skin showed higher metal concentrations than the muscle. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations in different food habitats increase in the following order: benthic omnivorous fish < zooplanktivore fish < phytoplanktivore fish < piscivore fish. Also, the comparison indicated that benthic species (Euryglossa orientalis, Otolithes ruber) were more contaminated than pelagic species (Liza abu and Psettodes erumei). Therefore, the concentration of heavy metals in edible part of fish species did not exceed the permissible limits proposed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (1983), WHO (1996), Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) (1999), and FAD (2001) which are suitable for human consumption, except for Ni and Cd in E. orientalis and Pb in O. ruber.

Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), mercury, methyl mercury, and arsenic in blue crab Portunus segnis from Persian Gulf.

Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), mercury (Hg), methyl mercury (MMHg), and arsenic (As) in the hepatopancreas and muscle of blue swimming crab Portunus segnis from Bushehr shore, north Part of Persian Gulf, were investigated. In addition, the relationships between crab size (carapace width) and PCBs, PAH, Hg, MMHg, and As levels in tissues were investigated by linear regression analysis. There were significant correlation between pollutants levels and crab size which were positive. The pollutants' concentrations were highest in hepatopancreas whereas lowest in the muscle of all crab species. The mean concentrations were 0.51 ng g(-1)PCB 16, 0.64 ng g(-1) PCB 99, 1.2 µg g(-1) Hg, 0.81 µg g(-1) MMHg, and 0.14 µg g(-1) As. Also, mean concentrations of different PAHs were 0.31 ng g(-1) Acenaphthylene, 0.51 ng g(-1) Acenaphthene, and 0.71 ng g(-1) Anthracene. Comparison between male and female indicated that the average PCBs, PAH, Hg, MMHg, and As concentrations in tissues of male crab were found to be significantly higher than those found in the female crab.