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Journal of Aquatic Science. 2025, 8(1), 1-7
DOI: 10.12691/jas-8-1-1
Open AccessArticle

Quantification of Total Mercury (THg) and Health Risk Analysis in Marine Organisms from the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania

Kristi Haka1, Alma Shehu1, and Julian Shehu2

1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, UT, University of Tirana, Albania.

2Research Centre of Flora and Fauna, Faculty of Natural Sciences, UT, University of Tirana, Albania. Blv. Zogu I, Tirane, Albania

Pub. Date: June 30, 2025
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Cite this paper:
Kristi Haka, Alma Shehu and Julian Shehu. Quantification of Total Mercury (THg) and Health Risk Analysis in Marine Organisms from the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania. Journal of Aquatic Science. 2025; 8(1):1-7. doi: 10.12691/jas-8-1-1

Abstract

Increases in mercury concentrations in biota over the past decades have sparked an increasing amount of studies to determine the effects of mercury contamination on the environment and human health. According to WHO, food is the main source of mercury presence in non-occupationally exposed populations; the mean dietary intake of mercury in various countries ranges from 2 to 20 µg/day per person. In this study, total mercury (THg) concentration was determined in biota species collected in the Adriatic and Ionian Sea fishing regions. Obtained results revealed that species collected in the Ionian Sea (Saranda region) exhibited higher concentration of THg compared to species of the Adriatic Sea. The highest concentration was found in Mullus surmuletus, (0.102 mg/kg ww) while the mean values of THg ranged between 0.003 – 0.102 mg/kg ww. The same trend of THg abundance in biota was followed even for the bioconcentration factors, BCFs. Total concentration of Hg in all selected species did not exceed the recommended values, based on EU, WHO and FDA regulations. Estimation of average daily intake, EDI and Total Hazard Quotient, THQ values revealed that that consumption of sea food is safe to regional population.

Keywords:
Total mercury THg biota Estimated Daily Intake Total Hazard Quotient

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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