Estimation of Some Heavy Metals in Different Types of Canned Tuna in the Egyptian Market

Fish is a high-quality food, but it can contain toxic heavy metals that accumulate in its tissues, posing a risk to human health as it is at the end of the food chain. These metals threaten public health due to their toxicity and ability to accumulate in tissues, leading to the depletion of essential nutrients, psychological and social problems, weakened immunity, delayed growth, increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer, and disabilities resulting from malnutrition. This study aimed to measure and compare the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, mercury, tin, copper, manganese and chromium) in five brands of canned tuna and its three types (shredded, chunks, and one-piece) in the Egyptian market. Heavy metal concentrations were generally below safe limits except for nickel in one of the samples, but HQ (the target hazard quotient) and HI (the total target hazard quotient) still showed no significant health risk. Based on the results, it can be concluded that no major health risks were identified for consumption of canned tuna from these five brands in the Egyptian market.