The Seasonal Assessment of Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Inhabiting Damietta Fishing Harbor, Egypt

The current study was conducted to investigate the bioaccumulation of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and iron (Fe) in the liver and the muscle tissues of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) collected in winter and spring (2021) from Damietta fishing harbor and the surrounding area, Damietta, Egypt. For this purpose, four samples of water and fish were collected from four sites. Besides, human health risk was assessed using estimated daily intake and target hazard quotients. The bioconcentration factor of the above-mentioned heavy metals was also determined. Although the bioaccumulation of all heavy metals in fish was lower than the permissible limits mentioned by FAO and WHO, their bio-concentrations showed remarkable differences among seasons and fish organs. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the liver was higher than that found in muscles with respect to all metals.  Spring recorded higher bioaccumulation compared to winter considering Mn, Cd, Cr, and Fe. The concentration of heavy metals in water in winter was in order as follows: Ni >Fe > Zn > Cd > Cr > Pb > Cu > Mn, while in spring, it was  Ni > Fe >Pb > Zn > Cr > Cd > Cu > Mn. On the other hand, the bioaccumulation of these metals in fish organs was shown in the following order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni> Cr > Cd. In conclusion, the human risk assessment indicated that European seabass in the present study was safe for human consumption.