Effects of floods resulting from climate change on metal concentrations in whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus) and red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and health risk assessment.

In this research, the effect of flooding caused by heavy precipitation, postulated to be one of the consequences of climate change, on toxic metal concentrations in two demersal fish species, whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus) and red mullet (Mullus barbatus), was investigated. For both demersal fish species, concentrations of Hg, Fe, Cd, Pb, Se, Al, Zn, Cu, Sr, B, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ba, and Li were compared between samples taken from Türkeli, Sinop, Black Sea, before and after the flood event in August 2021. Hg, Mn, Se, Li, B, and Sr metal concentrations increased in whiting and in red mullet in the post-flood samples. Estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient, cancer risk, the maximum allowable daily consumption rate and minimum daily requirements, and health risk analyses indicated that daily consumption of whiting and red mullet was risky due to the heavy metal Hg level after the flood. In addition, it was found that the samples had higher levels of Se than Hg, Se/Hg ratios were above 1, and Se-HBV were positive. Therefore, whiting and red mullet fishing should be restricted for a limited time period in the region.

Metal concentrations, selenium-mercury balance, and potential health risk assessment for consumer of whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus L., 1758) from different regions of the southern Black Sea.

The significant increase in the human population and the associated industrial wastes have a widespread impact on coastal areas. It is important to monitor trace elements that affect food safety and pose a potential consumer health threat. All over the Black Sea coast, people enjoy consuming whiting as both meat and roe. In February 2021, whitings were caught by bottom trawling from four different locations on the coasts of Kastamonu, Sinop (Sarikum, Adabasi), and Samsun in the southern Black Sea region. The meat and roe extracts obtained from whiting samples were analyzed through an optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). Trace element concentrations of whiting meat and roe in this study were Zn > Fe > Sr > As > Al > Se > B > Mn > Cu > Hg > Li > Ni > Ba > Pb > Cr > Cd and Zn > Fe > Al > As > Cu > Sr > Mn > Se > B > Ba > Li > Ni > Hg > Cr > Pb > Cd, respectively. These amounts were lower than the acceptable values accepted by the EU Commission. In case of whiting and roe consumption of a maximum of three portions (860.33 g) for Adabasi, six portions for Kastamonu (1432.37 g), three portions for Samsun (828.55 g), and five portions (1253.04 g) for Sarikum per month do not pose a health risk.