Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in fish is the result of long-term biomagnification in the food chain and is of public concern, due to the toxicity they engender. The objective of this research was to determine the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in 13 species of marine fish broadly commercialized in Aracaju, SE, Brazil and to evaluate the risks of fish consumption associated with these trace elements, using the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ). As, Cd, and Pb levels were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and mercury was analyzed via cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicate a large variability in concentrations for arsenic (0.07–2.03 mg kg^–1) and mercury (0.01–1.44 mg kg^–1), associated with the animal dietary category. Cadmium (0.04–0.19 mg kg^–1) and lead (<0.01–0.45 mg kg^–1), on the other hand showed a mild variability. None of the evaluated specimens had As, Cd, and Pb THQ values higher than 1. The THQ values for mercury were higher but indicated no consumption risk, except for amberjack, and snook fish. Overall THQ indicates lower risk of consumption in fish that are at the base of the food chain, than in those that are top predators.

鱼中的砷，镉，铅和汞是食物链中长期生物放大作用的结果，并且由于其产生的毒性而备受公众关注。这项研究的目的是确定在巴西东南部Aracaju广泛商业化的13种海水鱼中砷，镉，铅和汞的浓度，并使用Target评估与这些微量元素有关的鱼类食用风险。危害商（THQ）。用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测量As，Cd和Pb的含量，并通过冷蒸气原子吸收光谱法分析汞。结果表明，砷（0.07–2.03 mg kg ^–1）和汞（0.01–1.44 mg kg ^–1）的浓度差异很大。），与动物饮食类别相关。另一方面，镉（0.04–0.19 mg kg ^–1）和铅（<0.01–0.45 mg kg ^–1）表现出轻微的变化。所评估的标本中，砷，镉和铅的THQ值均未高于1。汞的THQ值较高，但除mber鱼和斯诺克鱼以外，没有食用风险。总的THQ值表明，相比于顶级捕食者，处于食物链基础的鱼类的食用风险更低。