Investigation of total mercury concentration in the edible tissue of highly-consumed fish and health risk assessments for fishermen and non-fishermen families in the Anzali wetland

In recent years, the toxic metal mercury has become one of the most important metal pollutants in Anzali wetland, so that the health and quality of edible fish in this ecosystem is seriously endangered for consumers. 10 species of four fish including common perch, duck, common carp and carp were caught. Atomic absorption method was used to measure mercury. Non-carcinogenic risk factors (HQ), daily mercury uptake (DI), allowable daily intake of fish (CRlim) and allowable monthly intake (CRmm) for children, women and adults in both fishery and non-fishery families were assessed. The mean concentrations of total mercury in the oral tissues of common perch, duck, common carp and carp were in the range of 8.46±149.93, 4.37±165.17, 8.83±78.92 and 60.7. 5.51 ng/g fresh weight, respectively. Duck species showed the highest mercury in the edible tissue with the lowest allowable amounts of food per month at 6.6, 5.1 and 5.6 for children, women and adults in fishery families, respectively. Health risk assessment showed a non-carcinogenic risk for mercury in duck and perch for adults and women (HQ>1). Therefore, Anzali wetland is heavily contaminated with mercury metal and the accumulation of this metal in the edible tissue of fish consuming this habitat can threaten the health of fishery households more than other people.