Metal content in muscles of pike-perch from Ivankovsk and Uglich reservoirs: assessment of health risks associated with fish consumption

The aim of the study is to determine the metal content in the muscles of pike-perch from the Ivankovsk and Uglich reservoirs and to assess the risk of human consumption of this species. Muscle tissue was excised, weighed and frozen from pike-perch individuals caught by trawl at standard stations of the reservoirs. In the laboratory, the tissues were dried, ground and the content of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Mg was determined using a KVANT 2-AT spectrophotometer; Cd, Pb, Al, Hg, Cr, Co, Ni, V - using an OES ISP Optima 2000 DV; K - using flame emission spectrometry. Risk assessment was carried out using calculation methods based on the obtained concentrations of heavy metals. The muscle tissue of the pike-perch from the Ivankovsk Reservoir contained significantly more Cd and Cr and less Fe than the muscles of the pike-perch from the Uglich Reservoir. The concentrations of Hg and V were below the detection limit. Synchronicity of bioaccumulation of a number of toxic and essential metals depending on their concentration in reservoir water has been discovered. The obtained content of heavy metals did not exceed the established Russian MPCs and international standards. Among the analyzed elements, the maximum accumulation in the muscles of pike-perch from both reservoirs was found for K, Al, Zn and Fe, the minimum - for Co, Cd and Ni. The indicators of non-carcinogenic risk to human health from heavy metals did not exceed the permissible threshold. The risk of cancer when consuming pike-perch meat from Cd, Al and Cr exceeded 1 per 100,000. The overall risk index for cancer development was higher than the established standards (> 1 • 10-4).