Background: Pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) have adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. They may accumulate in sediments, plants, and aquatic organisms, disrupting the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Methods: This study attempted to estimate the concentration of PTEs in shrimp tissue and estimate potential health risks in consumers among international databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, from January 2000 to March 20 2023. Furthermore, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for Iranian adult and child consumers were calculated using the Target hazard quotient (THQ) and Cancer Risk (CR).
Results: The rank order of PTEs due to THQ in adults was Methyl Hg (0.27) > Cd (0.13) > Ni (0.07) > Inorganic As (0.04) > Cu (0.03) > Pb (0.02), and for children Methyl Hg (1.28) > Cd (0.62) > Ni (0.35) > Inorganic As (0.20) > Cu (0.15) > Pb (0.11). TTHQ for the adults and children was 0.58 and 2.73, respectively. Besides, the mean CR in adults and children regarding inorganic As was 2.00E-5 and 7.98E-6, respectively. On the other hand, the total non carcinogenic risk showed that children could be at considerable risk.
Conclusion: The carcinogenic risk of inorganic As was acceptable (CR < 1E-4) for adults and children. As a result, health and environmental authorities in Iran and other nearby regions must continually monitor the levels of PTEs in shrimp muscle tissue and implement policies to reduce the PTE pollution of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.