Human Health Risk Assessment of Metal Exposure through Consumption of Various Fish Species in the Local Market, Muscat, Oman.

Fish is an important dietary source of high-quality protein and essential micronutrients; however, metal contamination poses significant food safety and public health concerns. This study investigated the concentrations of six metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni, Zn, and Fe) in the edible tissues of eight important fish species: Tuna (Thunnus tonggol), Sheri (Lethrinus spp.), King fish (Scomberomorus commerson), Trevally fish (Caranx ignobilis), Catfish (Arius spp.), Leather (Oligoplites spp.), Kofer (Argyrops spinifer), and Dhala (Rastrelliger kanagurta). A total of 16 samples were collected from local markets in Oman and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Human health risks were assessed through Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Hazard Index (HI), and Carcinogenic Risk (CR).

The mean metal concentrations (mg kg⁻¹, wet weight) were found to be Zn (16.478), Fe (5.165), Ni (0.501), Cu (0.419), Pb (0.341), and Cd (0.048), following the decreasing order Zn > Fe > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd. Zinc was the most abundant, whereas cadmium was present at the lowest level. A statistically significant positive correlation between Pb and Cd (r = 0.58) suggests a possible common anthropogenic source. The calculated EDI values (mg kg⁻¹ body weight day⁻¹) showed a similar trend, with Zn contributing the highest intake. The overall hazard index (HI = 0.6027) remained below the safety threshold (HI < 1), indicating negligible non-carcinogenic risk. Additionally, carcinogenic risk values for Pb and Ni were below the acceptable limit (1 × 10⁻⁴), suggesting minimal cancer risk.

Statistical evaluation demonstrated that variation in metal concentration was significantly influenced by metal type (p < 0.001), whereas differences among fish species were not statistically significant (p = 0.462). The findings suggest that fish sold in Oman markets are generally safe for consumption regarding the analyzed metals. However, regular monitoring remains essential to protect public health and support long-term environmental sustainability.