Meta-analysis and health risk assessment of toxic heavy metals in muscles of commercial fishes in Caspian Sea.

Heavy metals from contaminated seafood can have serious consequences for human health. Several studies on the amount of heavy metals in Caspian Sea fish have been conducted to ensure their food safety. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the levels of five toxic heavy metals; Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Chromium (Cr), and Arsenic (As) in muscles of commercial fishes of the Caspian Sea with assessing their health risk of developing oral cancer in terms of fish collection place and fish type. A systematic search was performed, and the random effect model was applied for meta-analysis. Finally, 14 studies with 30 different sets of results were included. Our results showed that the pooled estimates for Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, and As were 0.65 mg/kg (0.52, 0.79), 0.08 mg/kg (0.07, 0.10), 0.11 mg/kg (0.07, 0.15), 1.77 mg/kg (1.26, 2.27), and 0.10 mg/kg (- 0.06, 0.26) respectively. The levels of Pb and Cd were higher than their (FAO/WHO) maximum limits. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of Pb and Cd in Mazandaran, and Hg in Gilan were more than Total Daily Intake (TDI) limits. The consumers' non-carcinogenic risk (THQ) for Hg in Mazandaran and Gilan, and As in Gilan, was unsafe. Carcinogenic risk (CR) for Cr and Cd in all three provinces, and for As in Mazandaran and Gilan, was greater than 1*10 - 4 and was unsafe. The lowest and highest risk levels of oral cancer were for Rutilus kutum and Cyprinus carpio respectively.