Health risk assessment of lead, mercury, and other metal(loid)s: A potential threat to the population consuming fish inhabiting, a lentic ecosystem in Steel City (Jamshedpur), India

Six fish species (Labeo calbasu, Puntius ticto, Notopterus notopterus, Labeo rohita, Channa punctatus, and Aorichthys seenghala) were selected from Dimna Lake, Jamshedpur, India. Metal(loid) (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) concentrations were assessed in gill, muscle, intestine, liver, and caudal fin of each fish species. The result showed that the concentrations of Cd (2.16–3.87 mg/kg), Cr (2.22–9.97 mg/kg), Hg (0.09–1.99 mg/kg), Pb (12.00–39.65 mg/kg), and Zn (97.20–376.02 mg/kg) were higher than that of previous research and international standard. Industrial discharge, vehicular emission and agricultural run-off were responsible sources of elevated concentration of these metal(loids). Among different organs, highest concentrations were observed in gill, liver and intestine may be attributed to the physiology of organs and their interaction with the environment. Among different fish species, carnivorous and bottom feeders concentrate more metal(loid)s. The potential human health risk due to consumption of fish species was assessed by Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) of metal(loid)s. The result showed the value of THQ greater than 1 and the value of HI within 2.7–15.1. These results showed a serious threat (especially due to lead and mercury) to the local population consuming fish from Dimna Lake.