The presence of toxic heavy metals in tuna fishes from Laccadive sea and concomitant health risk.

This article focuses on assessing the concentrations of toxic heavy metals in Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and Skipjack (Katsuwonus kishinouye) tuna from the Laccadive Sea near the Maldives and evaluating associated human health risks. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), the study found that levels of metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) in tuna samples were below international maximum tolerable limits. Health risk assessments, including estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and target cancer risk (TCR), indicated that consumption of these tuna species poses insignificant non-carcinogenic and low carcinogenic risks to humans. The study concludes that tuna from the Laccadive Sea is safe for human consumption but recommends ongoing monitoring due to the Maldives' high per capita fish consumption.