Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in marine fish samples from the central Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic contaminants known for their toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, which significantly affect aquatic ecosystems and human health. This research aims to quantify the concentration of 16 important PAHs in the tissues of five economically significant fish species: Caranx melampygus , Scarus ghobban , Plectropomus leopardus , Acanthopagrus latus , and Lethrinus miniatus, sampled from a coastal area near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. PAHs were extracted using ethyl acetate and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The data showed variability in PAH concentrations among the species, with P. leopardus exhibiting the highest total PAHs accumulation (33.43 µg kg −1 wet weight), whereas no PAHs were detected in C. melampygus . Phenanthrene and anthracene were identified as the predominant compounds. Notably, all detected PAHs levels remained below international safety thresholds, including the established limits for benzo[a]pyrene. These findings suggest that the studied fish present a minimal risk to human consumers; however, further relevant research is required.