Potential risks associated with Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr contamination in the muscle of Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) from Morocco.

Marine fish face increasing threats from human activities, particularly pollution, which exacerbates marine contamination. This study evaluates the risks of trace element contamination in the edible muscle of Sardina pilchardus from Morocco. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) were quantified in 360 specimens. Zinc was the most abundant metal (70.28 µg g-1 dry weight (dw)), followed by Fe (60.31 µg g-1 dw), Cu (2.31 µg g-1 dw), and Ni (0.83 µg g-1 dw), while Cr was undetected. Seasonal variations significantly influenced metal concentrations and health risk indices (p < 0.05), with higher Fe and Zn levels in colder seasons and elevated Ni and Cu levels during warmer periods. No significant differences were found between sampling locations (p > 0.05). All recorded levels were below international food safety standards. Health risk assessments, including estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient, and total THQ, indicated no immediate health risk. However, toxicological evaluation revealed that the target carcinogenic risk (CR) for Ni exceeded the threshold of 10-4, suggesting a potential long-term carcinogenic risk. While trace element levels in Sardina pilchardus generally pose no immediate health concerns, the elevated CR for Ni emphasizes the need for further research, monitoring, and mitigation strategies. These findings underline the importance of continuous assessment to ensure the safety of marine fish and to mitigate potential risks to human health over time.