Hazard Analysis and Human Health Risk Assessment in the Mytilus Galloprovincialis and Rapana Venosa Species in the Black Sea’s Türkiye Coastline by Multivariate Analysis

In this study; fourteen potentially toxic elements (PTEs) levels are measured in Mytilus galloprovincialis (MG) and in Rapana venosa (RV) intensively consumed in eight cities on the Black Sea coast of Türkiye. Additionally, human health risk levels from mollusks species consumption were assessed using multiple approaches and by Geographical Information Systems, spatial distribution map of PTEs of the region was prepared. The average PTEs levels in the two mollusks species are listed in the following order: Fe > Al > Zn > Cu > As > Mn > B > Cd > Se > Ni > Cr > Pb > Co > Hg with the levels of 114.8 > 79.7 > 39.49 > 9.75 > 5.74 > 3.22 > 2.97 > 2.74 > 0.72 > 0.40 > 0.24 > 0.22 > 0.11 > 0.015 µg g⁻¹ ww, respectively. The average concentration level of essential metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Co and Fe) and toxic metals (Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Cd and As) was measured as 238.73 µg g⁻¹ ww in RV and 114.86 µg g⁻¹ ww in MG. The cities with the highest metal pollution index (MPI) levels were Rize, Samsun, Kastamonu and Sinop, respectively. The MPI values in mollusks soft tissue were 1.25 in MG and 2.51 in RV. For fourteen PTEs, the MPI from metal intake by ingesting two crustacea species were over than 1, indicating risk from consumption. In addition to this, since the THQ value of Cd and hazard index (HI) were determined above 1, it can be said that it does pose public health risk for RV.