Abstract
Aquaculture contributes to the global animal protein supply and the prevention of malnutrition and diet-related diseases (FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations); Fiorella et al., 2021). In particular, fish is a significant source of animal protein, fatty acids (e.g., docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid), vitamins, and essential trace elements in the human diet. Nonetheless, fish bioaccumulates metals from their diet and habitat. This data article includes information on the concentrations of 4 essential and 4 non-essential trace elements in cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the human health risks through fish consumption in the adult population. Concentrations of four essential (Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) and four non-essential (As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) elements were quantified in ninety-one O. mykiss samples from an in-door production system. Total mercury (THg) levels in samples were determined by AAS, and other analyzed trace elements were measured by ICP-OES after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The highest concentrations of metals/metalloid (mg/kg wet weight) in fish muscle were Cr (0.44), Cu (4.21), Ni (1.01), As (0.47), Cd (0.045), Pb (0.65), THg (0.029), and Zn (6.21). The average concentrations of Cr and Pb exceeded their respective maximum limit. In most cases, median metal concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) differed across the fish size groups (small: 264-295 mm; medium: 300-395 mm; and large: 400-552 mm). The median concentrations of Cd, Zn, and THg in the large size group differed significantly (p < 0.05) between genders. The estimated weekly intake values of quantified elements from muscle were below the provisional tolerable weekly intakes. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment in adult consumers, being below one (THQ ≤ 1; and TTHQ ≤ 1), indicated an insignificant health hazard. The estimated incremental and cumulative cancer risks in the adult class through Cr, As, Ni, and Pb exposure were greater than the benchmark (10(-5)). Accordingly, high dietary intake of metals/metalloid from cultured O. mykiss posed a risk of carcinogenesis in the adult risk class.