Risk assessment for exposure to potential toxic metals via dietary intake of black scorpionfish from the Black Sea

The concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were measured in black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758) from Sinop coasts of the Black Sea, Türkiye. The study found that the levels of these metals were below Türkiye and international permissible values. For each metal, it was discovered that the estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ) and risk index (RI) values were significantly lower than the corresponding reference doses, indicating that the fish were not found to pose a significant health risk to children or adult consumers based on the available data.''. This is important because S. porcus has become a popular food choice due to the decrease in naturally caught fish and its abundance in the area. The findings suggest that black scorpionfish can be a healthy and sustainable food option for consumers.