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Human Feeding of Fish Contaminated with Heavy Metals: A Serious Challenge for Human Food Security
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Ali Reza Radkhah   , Soheil Eagderi * , Hadi Poorbagher , Esmaeil Sadeghinejad Masouleh |
| Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran. |
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Abstract: (235 Views) |
The present research was conducted in order to investigate the negative effects caused by the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in fish as well as the human body, which occurs due to the long-term consumption of contaminated fish. The investigation of various sources of HMs showed that agricultural and industrial activities have a major contribution to the presence of various metals such as cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) in water environments. With the continuous entry of these toxic substances into aquatic ecosystems, the possibility of bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the body of various aquatic animals, especially fish, is provided. Bioaccumulation of HMs by fish and their subsequent distribution in body organs among different species is significant. Several factors such as sex, age, size, reproduction cycle, swimming pattern, feeding behavior and geographical location can affect the absorption of HMs and their bioaccumulation in the body of fish. A literature review showed that most heavy metals are toxic to the body at very low levels. However, among different metals, Hg, Pb and Cd have a higher degree of toxicity. Among the toxicity mechanisms of these metals, we can mention the production of free radicals, which is done in order to create oxidative stress. In addition, damage to biological molecules such as proteins, lipids, enzymes and nucleic acids, as well as DNA damage, also show an important part of the toxicity mechanism of HMs. According to the findings, an increase in the concentration of Hg, Pb and Cd in fish tissue compared to other HMs can have much more harmful consequences on the health of society. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to the effects caused by bioaccumulation of these metals in the fish body and the possibility of their transfer to the human body through the food chain. |
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| Keywords: Heavy Metals, Bioaccumulation, Fish, Toxicity, Human Health. |
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Full-Text [PDF 1702 kb]
(53 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/02/5 | Accepted: 2024/02/29 | Published: 2024/02/29
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