Potential Human Health Risk Associated with Lead and Cadmium Contaminations in Seafood at Pattani Bay, Thailand

Environmental contamination of toxic heavy metals is a critical issue. It can lead to potential threats to ecosystems including edible seafood. High-level metal exposure can cause negative human health effects. The aims of this study were to investigate the dispersion of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in sediment and water of Pattani Bay, Pattani province, Thailand. Their bioaccumulation and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in six seafood species including Mugil cephalus, Scylla paramamosain, S. olivacea, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, Perna viridis, and Tegillarca granosa were calculated. Target hazard quotients (THQ) of Pb and Cd contaminations in selected seafood species were determined to assess consumer health risk.