Consumer Risk Characterisation of Potentially Toxic Elements in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Marketed in...

European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is a widely consumed fish species and may contribute to dietary exposure to potentially toxic elements. This study analysed 40 seabass samples, originating from the Adriatic Sea (Croatia) and purchased at retail in Hungary, for total arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) concentrations using ICP-OES. Their concentrations in muscle tissue (mg/kg ww) were 1.44 ± 0.90 for total As (detected in 92.5% of samples), 0.06 ± 0.02 for Cd (detected in 35.0% of samples), and 0.25 ± 0.14 for Pb (detected in 27.5% of samples). Inorganic arsenic (iAs) was not measured directly but was conservatively estimated to be 5% of the total arsenic, resulting in an estimated concentration of 0.07 ± 0.05 mg/kg wet weight. All Hg results were below the analytical limit of detection (0.50 mg/kg). When compared with the EU maximum levels (ML), six samples (15%) exceeded the ML for Pb (0.30 mg/kg), thirteen samples (32.5%) exceeded the ML for Cd (0.05 mg/kg), and eight samples (20%) potentially exceeded the ML for iAs (0.1 mg/kg). Consumer risk was evaluated using a screening-level non-cancer risk characterisation framework based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI). Results below the LODs were handled using lower-, middle- and upper-bound substitution scenarios. Risk characterisation focused on EU-relevant consumption scenarios, including average adult consumptions, an adult high-consumer (P95) scenario, and child-specific scenarios using age-appropriate body weights. For average adult consumptions, the HI was below one under the lower-bound scenario but exceeded one under the middle- and upper-bound scenarios. However, under high-consumption conditions, lead was identified as the dominant contributor to elevated THQ and HI values, particularly in upper-bound scenarios and for sensitive population groups. These findings indicate that European seabass does not provide definitive evidence of a general population-level health risk; however, screening-level non-cancer concerns were identified under the mean adult middle- and upper-bound scenarios, as well as under high-consumption scenarios, underscoring the importance of continued monitoring and risk-based communication.