Total Mercury (THg) Content in Red Mullet (Mullus barbatus) from Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea): Relation to Biological Parameters, Sampling Area and Human Health Risk Assessment

Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant that has toxic effects on ecosystems and biota. As it biomagnifies in the food chain, its presence edible fish poses high risk to human health. Herein, total Hg (THg) content was quantified 2018–2019 using thermal decomposition amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry muscle tissue of red mullet (Mullus barbatus), commercially important species throughout Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea). Specimens were grouped into 16 pools based sex, reproductive stages, sampling area. The overall mean value THg 0.20 ± 0.15 mg kg−1 terms wet weight. levels males females showed no statistically significant differences, whereas specimens captured open sea higher than coastal samples. Statistically differences between stages found females. However, neither lipid nor length correlated with content. analyzed considered be safe according EU directives, but necessary exercise caution further investigate Italian people 0–18 age group, because they exposed dose methylmercury safety threshold set by EFSA.