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Heavy metal contamination in the muscle of Aegean chub (Squalius fellowesii) and potential risk assessment

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Abstract

Especially after the industrial revolution, the amount of contaminants released in aquatic ecosystems has considerably increased. For this reason, the necessity to carry on research on the existence of contaminants, specifically heavy metals, has emerged. In this study, heavy metal concentrations in muscle tissues of Aegean chub, which was an endemic species of south western part of Turkey, gathered from Tersakan River were examined. Heavy metal concentrations of the samples were analyzed with ICP-MS. Estimated daily intakes (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) of elements were calculated. The heavy metals detected in muscle tissues were Zn > Cu > Cr > Mn > Pb > Cd, consecutively. According to the results of the applied health risk assessment (EDI, THQ and CR) for heavy metal exposure from fish consumption in children and adults, it was determined that there was no any significant threat to human health.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate Assist. Prof. Daniela Giannetto (Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey) for her helpful comments. They would also like to thank Res. Assist. Nisan Yozukmaz (Mugla Sitki Kocman University) for her contribution to the editing of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, 48000, Mugla, Turkey

    Hüseyin Şaşi, Aykut Yozukmaz & Murat Yabanli

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  1. Hüseyin Şaşi
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  2. Aykut Yozukmaz
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Correspondence to Aykut Yozukmaz.

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Şaşi, H., Yozukmaz, A. & Yabanli, M. Heavy metal contamination in the muscle of Aegean chub (Squalius fellowesii) and potential risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 6928–6936 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-1030-y

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