RESEARCH ARTICLE
Heavy metal concentrations in wild and farmed gilthead sea bream
from southern Mediterranean Sea—human health risk assessment
Ryhane Lounas
1
& Hamza Kasmi
2 & Safia Chernai
1 & Nadia Amarni
1 & Louiza Ghebriout
3 & Boualem Hamdi
1
Received: 26 May 2020 / Accepted: 4 February 2021
# The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature 2021
Abstract
Arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc concentrations in the edible part of wild and farmed Sparus aurata from
Algerian coastal were determined. The highest concentrations of cadmium (0.0078 mg kg
−1 wet weight), copper
(0.98 mg kg
−1 w.w), and zinc (5.1 mg kg
−1 w.w) were recorded in farmed sea bream, whereas the highest arsenic
(5.02 mg kg
−1 w.w) and lead (0.006 mg kg
−1 w.w) levels were registered in wild one. The statistical analysis
(Friedman test, p < 0.05) indicated that the origin of fish (wild, farmed in a cage, and farmed in raceway) has
relevance to the distribution of metal. Estimated weekly intake of inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and lead for a 72.5-kg
person consuming Sparus aurata from Algeria does not exceed 1% of the WHO/JECFA recommended rate for all
metals, certainly due to the limited consumption of seafood products by the local population. The total target hazard
index is far less than “one” 1, and the carcinogenic risk for arsenic exceeds the acceptable value of 10
−5 . Based on
the result of this study, the potential risk to human health from the consumption of contaminate farmed sea bream
(in the cage) should be considered.
Keywords Sparus aurata . Trace elements . Target hazard quotient (THQ) . Mariculture . Carcinogenic risk . Estimated daily
intake (EDI) . Aquaculture . Algerian coasts
Highlights
• The concentration of trace elements in farmed sea bream is lower than in
wild one.
• Cadmium level in farmed fish is higher than in wild one.
• Intake metals from consuming S. aurata do not exceed 1% of the
weekly recommended rate for all metal values.
• THQs showed that there is no health risk for sea bream’s consuming
population.
• Arsenic has the highest probability of cancer risk.
Responsible Editor: V. V. S. S. Sarma
* Ryhane Lounas
louna.ryhane@gmail.com
Hamza Kasmi
ks.amza@yahoo.fr
Safia Chernai
shamdi.01sh@gmail.com
Nadia Amarni
amarninadia@hotmail.com
Louiza Ghebriout
fairouz_ghab@hotmail.fr
Boualem Hamdi
bhamdi_99@yahoo.fr
1
Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine Resources,
National Higher School of Marine Science and Coastal Management
(ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely Ibrahim, Bois des Cars,
16320 Algiers, Algeria
2
SGS Centre, sécurité de convoyage de fonds et de produits sensibles
et/ou dangereux, Bois des Cars III Villa n°96, Dely-Ibrahim,
16320 Algiers, Algeria
3
University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene
(USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111 Algiers, Algeria
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12864-3
Heavy metal concentrations in wild and farmed gilthead sea bream
from southern Mediterranean Sea—human health risk assessment
Ryhane Lounas
1
& Hamza Kasmi
2 & Safia Chernai
1 & Nadia Amarni
1 & Louiza Ghebriout
3 & Boualem Hamdi
1
Received: 26 May 2020 / Accepted: 4 February 2021
# The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature 2021
Abstract
Arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc concentrations in the edible part of wild and farmed Sparus aurata from
Algerian coastal were determined. The highest concentrations of cadmium (0.0078 mg kg
−1 wet weight), copper
(0.98 mg kg
−1 w.w), and zinc (5.1 mg kg
−1 w.w) were recorded in farmed sea bream, whereas the highest arsenic
(5.02 mg kg
−1 w.w) and lead (0.006 mg kg
−1 w.w) levels were registered in wild one. The statistical analysis
(Friedman test, p < 0.05) indicated that the origin of fish (wild, farmed in a cage, and farmed in raceway) has
relevance to the distribution of metal. Estimated weekly intake of inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and lead for a 72.5-kg
person consuming Sparus aurata from Algeria does not exceed 1% of the WHO/JECFA recommended rate for all
metals, certainly due to the limited consumption of seafood products by the local population. The total target hazard
index is far less than “one” 1, and the carcinogenic risk for arsenic exceeds the acceptable value of 10
−5 . Based on
the result of this study, the potential risk to human health from the consumption of contaminate farmed sea bream
(in the cage) should be considered.
Keywords Sparus aurata . Trace elements . Target hazard quotient (THQ) . Mariculture . Carcinogenic risk . Estimated daily
intake (EDI) . Aquaculture . Algerian coasts
Highlights
• The concentration of trace elements in farmed sea bream is lower than in
wild one.
• Cadmium level in farmed fish is higher than in wild one.
• Intake metals from consuming S. aurata do not exceed 1% of the
weekly recommended rate for all metal values.
• THQs showed that there is no health risk for sea bream’s consuming
population.
• Arsenic has the highest probability of cancer risk.
Responsible Editor: V. V. S. S. Sarma
* Ryhane Lounas
louna.ryhane@gmail.com
Hamza Kasmi
ks.amza@yahoo.fr
Safia Chernai
shamdi.01sh@gmail.com
Nadia Amarni
amarninadia@hotmail.com
Louiza Ghebriout
fairouz_ghab@hotmail.fr
Boualem Hamdi
bhamdi_99@yahoo.fr
1
Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine Resources,
National Higher School of Marine Science and Coastal Management
(ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely Ibrahim, Bois des Cars,
16320 Algiers, Algeria
2
SGS Centre, sécurité de convoyage de fonds et de produits sensibles
et/ou dangereux, Bois des Cars III Villa n°96, Dely-Ibrahim,
16320 Algiers, Algeria
3
University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene
(USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111 Algiers, Algeria
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12864-3