Bioaccumulation and Health Risk Potential of Heavy Metals Including Cancer in Wild and Farmed Meagre Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801), Mediterreanean Sea, Egypt

The sciaenid meagre (Argyrosomus regius, Asso 1801) is a significant organism in fisheries and a promising candidate for the Egyptian aquaculture. This study presented a comparative analysis of wild and aquacultured meagre. Two size groups of fish, small (S) and large (L), from the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea and a local farm in Maryut Valley were examined. Oxidative stress markers and antioxidant responses, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and catalase (CAT), were measured in the liver. Additionally, variations in muscle composition of lipids, total proteins, moisture, and ash content were evaluated. The muscle heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni)) concentrations were analyzed, and total accumulation was assessed using the metal pollution index (MPI). Furthermore, assessments of hazard associated with fish ingestion were conducted based on estimated dietary intakes (EDI and EWI), the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the carcinogenic risk (CR). The muscle contents of moisture, ash, total lipids, and total protein revealed insignificant results. The liver of small farmed fish (SFM) exhibited higher levels of SOD, CAT, and TAC compared to other groups.Analysis of heavy metals showed a non-significant trend of higher accumulation of Ni in farmed and small-sized fish, while Pb, Cd and Hg levels were higher in wild fish. However all recorded heavy metals did not exceed the international guideline of maximum permissible limit (MPL) for human consumption. Metal estimated dietary intake was calculated, and non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk was assessed for different studied groups. The calculated THQ for Pb, Cd, Mn and Ni were less than 1, indicating lack of health risks from consumption of single metal up to seven times per week.  The CR level indicated safe levels of Pb, Cd, Ni and Hg in the flesh of meagre in the Egyptian water.