In this study, the concentration of potentially hazardous elements (PHEs) in the muscle of Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) from the Strait of Hormuz was analyzed and following the health risk in the consumers by uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) technique was estimated. Fifty-eight blue card samples (male blue crabs = 33 samples; female blue crabs = 25 samples) were collected in the Strait of Hormuz from May to September 2020 for analysis of Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Iron (Fe) using Flame Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS). The order of PHEs in the in muscle male blue crabs was Fe (414.37 ± 288.07 μg/kg.ww) > Pb (238.78 ± 87.83 μg/kg.ww) > Ni (92.57 ± 39.72 μg/kg.ww) > Cd (52.73 ± 18.39 μg/kg.ww) and in female blue crabs Fe (461.16 ± 320.56 μg/kg.ww) > Pb (230.79 ± 125.59 μg/kg.ww) > Ni (84.13 ± 46.07 μg/kg.ww) > Cd (67.412 ± 43.93 μg/kg.ww). The concentration of PHEs muscle of male blue crabs and female blue crabs was not significantly different (P-value > 0.05). Uncertainty of non-carcinogenic risk revealed that P95% of total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) in the adult and children consumers due to ingestion male blue crabs was 5.30E-3 and 1.08E-3, respectively, and P95% of TTHQ in the adult and children due to ingestion female blue crabs was 7.05E-3 and 1.20E-3, respectively. P95% of TTHQ in both adult and children consumers was lower than one value. Therefore, consumers are at the acceptable range of the non-carcinogenic risk due to ingestion muscle of male and female blue crabs in Bandar Abbas. Although the non-carcinogenic risk of blue crab was in the safe range, due to the increase in its consumption and the increase of pollution sources in the Persian Gulf, it is recommended to monitor PHEs in Blue's muscle crabs.
Keywords: Bioindicator; Marine foods; Potentially hazardous elements (PHEs); Probabilistic risk assessment.
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