Abstract:

The contents of heavy metals including Hg, Cd and Pb in edible marine products such as molluscs, crustaceans, and fish from a local market in Lianyungang were determined to evaluate the potential risks to health on the basis of target hazard quotients (THQs). Results indicated that mercury had the highest concentration in molluscs (0.06－1.23 mg/kg), followed by fish (0.024－1.03 mg/kg), and crustaceans (less than 0.25 mg/kg). Cadmium level in molluscs was in the range of 0.18 to 4.02 mg/kg, which was higher than that in crustaceans (less than 0.05 mg/kg) and fish (less than 0.07 mg/kg). However, Pb level was generally low, which was between 0.04 mg/kg and 0.23 mg/kg in molluscs, less than 0.03 mg/kg in crustaceans, and less than 0.07 mg/kg in fish. According to the THQ values of Cd and Pb, there is no risk to health after consuming these seafoods from this market. In contrast, according to the THQ values of mercury, one kind of fish (Platycephalus indicus) has the risk to health during consumption.

Key words: seafood, heavy metal, health risk assessment, target hazard quotients (THQs)