LAUSR

Concentrations of toxic metals (Cd, Hg and Pb) in the edible tissues of seven commercial fish species (Mullus barbatus, Merlangius merlangus, Scophthalmus maximus, Mugil cephalus, Engraulis encrasicolus, Trachurus mediterraneus and Sarda sarda) collected from Sinop coasts of the southern Black Sea were detected in 11 years. In several fish samples, the concentrations of elements (Cd, Hg and Pb) were not detected or were below the detection level. The present study showed that Pb was the most and Cd was the least accumulated metal in the studied fish species. The concentrations of those metals are below the international organizations' recommended limit. It was shown that the estimated metal dose values for daily average consumption and hazarded quotients (HI) in fish samples are below safety levels for human consumption (HI˂1). From the human health point of view, this study showed that there was no possible health risk to people due to intake of any studied species under the current consumption rate in the country for 11 years. This study could be useful as a baseline data for metals exposure.