Accumulation and health risks of heavy metals in the seafood from China
Cheng, J.; Ma, Y.; Liu, T.; Zhuo, Q.
Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 46(1): 148-154
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 1000-8020 PMID: 29903168 Document Number: 694012
To investigate the contamination and health risks of heavy metals in the seafood from China. Statistical characteristics of the concentrations of five metals, i. e. , Pb, Cd, Cr, As and Hg, in the marine fishes, shellfishes and bivalves from China offshore waters were investigated, and their health risks were assessed using the target hazard quotient model recommended by US EPA, based on the available information regarding the metal concentrations reported in published literatures. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test indicated that all the five metals in the seafood had skewed concentration distributions. In the study, several independent samples tests showed that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, As and Cd were significantly different( P < 0. 05). No significant differences were observed for Hg levels in seafood. The levels of five metals in the marine fishes, shellfishes and bivalves from China were generally low based on the published data. The Chinese seafood was polluted by Pb and Cd obviously, but the pollutions ranged in low levels. The light pollutions of As were observed in Chinaseafood from some offshore waters. The concentrations of Hg in the Chinese seafood were generally ranged in the safe level. Health risk assessment indicated that the hazard quotients of As and Cd in shellfish were 1. 15 and 1. 23 for children, respectively, at the95 th percentile. The hazard quotients of Cd in bivalves were 1. 16 and 2. 04 for adults and children, respectively, at the 95 th percentile. The findings suggested that there were health risks from exposure to Cd and As in a few of shellfishes and bivalves. The noncarcinogenic risks of other metals in seafood were acceptable. The metal pollutions in Chinese seafood are generally low, but the risk of multiple metals exposure in the seafood should be of concern.