Nutritional status, level of trace metals and human health risk assessment in fishes of Central Himalayan River Alaknanda

The aim of the present study is to access the human health risk and nutritional status of five common food fishes, Schizothorax richardsonii, Crossocheilus latius latius, Garra lamta, Schizothorax progastus and Barilius bendelisis found in the river Alaknanda of Central Himalaya. The fish, G. lamta was richest in protein (21.22%), B. bendelisis in lipid (4.58%) and C. latius latius in carbohydrate content (2.03%). Among the macro and trace elements, C. latius latius was rich in K (348.41 mg 100g⁻¹), B. bendelisis in Ca (504.78 mg 100g⁻¹) and Zn (3.163 mg 100g⁻¹), G. lamta in Na (155.89 mg 100g⁻¹) and S. progastus in Fe and Cu (18.24 mg 100g⁻¹, 0.715 mg 100g⁻¹). The level of trace metals was well below the highest permissible limit as set by FAO (1983) and WHO (1995). No hazard and carcinogenic risk related to fishes of Alaknanda River was proven on the basis of target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI) and target cancer risk (TR) estimations. None of the fish species showed HI levels higher than 1 and TR values for Pb were also lower than 10⁻⁶ indicating no possible risk to human health. Thus, fish species may be recommended in daily diet for human consumption.