Probabilistic Human Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Planiliza klunzingeri and Sillago sihama Fish in...

Fish consumption is a vital source of nutrition worldwide, but contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses significant health risks. This study aimed to assess the concentrations of PTEs (As, Cd, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, Cr) in two commercially important fish species Planiliza klunzingeri (Day, 1888) and Sillago sihama (Fabricius, 1775) from the Persian Gulf and evaluate their potential health risks to consumers using a probabilistic approach. A total of 60 fish samples (30 per species) were collected between January and February 2025 from the Bandar Abbas fish market. Muscle tissues were analyzed for PTEs content using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Health risks were assessed using a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) model, which estimated chronic daily intake (CDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for both adults and children. Lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) were the most abundant metals in both species. Sillago sihama exhibited higher inorganic arsenic (iAs) levels (51.027 µg/kg-ww) compared to P. klunzingeri (38.212 µg/kg-ww), while the latter had elevated Cd, Cu, Co, Pb, and Cr concentrations. Probabilistic risk assessment indicated negligible non-carcinogenic risks (THQ and HI < 1). However, iAs contributed to a low carcinogenic risk, with 95th percentile ILCR values remaining within acceptable limits (< 1 × 10^-4). Moderate consumption of P. klunzingeri and S. sihama from the Persian Gulf is unlikely to pose significant health risks. However, continuous monitoring, stricter industrial discharge regulations, and targeted risk communication for vulnerable populations are recommended to ensure long-term food safety and environmental sustainability.