Risk assessment to consumers from mercury in Acanthopagrus latus

This study aimed to investigate the concentration of mercury in Acanthopagrus latus of Bahmanshir River using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and also to estimate the consequent health hazard. For this purpose, 30 samples of fish were prepared from Choebdeh seaport. The average concentration of mercury of Acanthopagrus latus was 0.24±0.08 mg/Kg of fresh wet weight of muscle. The results showed that average concentration of mercury in muscle of Acanthopagrus latus was less than the international organizations standards. According to Statistical Yearbook of Iran Fisheries Organization, the calculations indicated that daily and weekly mercury uptake for the adult Iranian consumers (70 Kg), was 0.000085 mg/Kg/day and 0.000595 mg/Kg/weekly. In addition, it was revealed that HQ index for Acanthopagrus latus was 0.85 which was estimated below 1. Accordingly, maximum daily intake of fish contaminated with 0.24 mg mercury/Kg wet weight for a 70 Kg person was estimated at 29 g/day and 203 g/week.