Determination of Heavy Metal Levels and Assessment of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. Presence in Fishery Products and Mussels from the Marmara Region, Turkiye

This study evaluated heavy metal levels (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cu) and the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in mussels and commonly consumed fishery products from the Marmara region of Turkiye. Health risks were evaluated using total hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values, while microbial risks in fresh and ready-to-eat (RTE) products were estimated via the Risk Ranger tool. Among 625 samples, Hg (36.96%; CI95 = 33.27-48.81), Pb (9.76%; CI95 = 7.67-12.34), and Cd (19.36%; CI95 = 16.45-22.64) exceeded permissible limits, except in crabs, which remained compliant. Anchovy, sardines, bluefish, shrimps, and octopus met EU Cd limits. Shrimps exhibited higher As-in levels than crabs (p < 0.05), while squids had significantly higher As-in than octopus but lower Pb (p < 0.05). Microbiological analysis detected Salmonella spp. in 4.00% of samples (CI95 = 2.50-6.30) and L. monocytogenes in 4.24% (CI95 = 2.70-6.59). Surmullet, bluefish, red mullet, crabs, mussels, and octopus tested negative for both, while anchovy was negative for Salmonella spp. only. THQ and HI assessments emphasized the need for environmental monitoring to mitigate heavy metal contamination. The detection of pathogens highlights the importance of stringent surveillance measures to ensure the safety of fishery products and bivalves.