The Accumulation of Heavy Metals in European Squid (Loligo vulgaris) Collected from the Coasts of Türkiye and Its Impact on Public Health

Metal pollution is increasing in Türkiye and coastal environments due to factors such as urbanization, industrialization, agricultural activities, sea transportation, domestic waste and emissions from various industrial facilities in the eastern Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara Seas. This pollution has resulted in the contamination of marine ecosystems, affecting algae, fish and marine invertebrates with a variety of metals. The aim of this study was to define the accumulation of Aluminum (Al), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) elements in different tissues of the European squid, Loligo vulgaris, including the mantle (muscle), gills, hepatopancreas (liver) and gonads. Metal distribution in the mantle tissue of the L. vulgaris was observed to be Zn > Fe > Cu > Al > Pb > Mn > Cr > Ni > Cd > Co, in the gill tissue it was Fe > Al > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd > Co and in the hepatopancreas tissue it was Cu > Fe > Zn > Al > Mn > Pb > Cd > Cr > Co > Ni, based on average values. To assess potential hazards to human health related with the consumption of L. vulgaris, the research computed Target Hazard Coefficient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Cancer Risk (CR) metrics for elements, both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic, accumulated in the mantle tissue. The results suggested that the consumption of L. vulgaris, harvested from the coasts of Türkiye, does not present significant health risks to humans.