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Abstract:

Metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe and Ni) accumulation in the tissues of four fish species, flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus), gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus), common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) and goldblotch grouper (Epinephelus costae), inhabiting Gökova Bay were analysed by ICP-OES. Concentrations of all metals were significantly higher in M. cephalus compared with the other three examined species. The distribution of the individual total metal load (IMBI) values varied from 0.08 to 0.90, 0.10 to 0.85 and 0.13 to 0.95 in gill, muscle and liver tissue, respectively. During spring, IMBI values in M. cephalus and E. costae are of high concentration when compared to other seasons. The estimated daily intake (EDI) results for Cu, Fe, Cd, Ni and Pb ranged between 0.33 and 0.59 mg/day, 7.72 and 10.56 mg/day, 0.01 and 0.03 mg/day, 0.02 and 0.069 mg/day, 0.002 and 0.004 mg/day, respectively. The carcinogenic risk (CR) values for Ni and Pb from fish consumption varied from 0.014 to 0.114 and from 6.42E-06 to 4.76E-05. As a result, the mean total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) was relatively lower than value 1.00 in all the examined specimens, suggesting low health risks.