MARINE POLLUTION AND SEAFOOD SAFETY IN ALBANIA: A TOXIC METAL RISK PERSPECTIVE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

The accumulation of toxic metals in marine biota poses a significant environmental and food safety concern, particularly in coastal regions exposed to increasing anthropogenic pressures.In present paper, the concentrations metals, (Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni and (Al) was determined in selected marine species collected along the Albanian coastline.Measured concentrations were evaluated against international regulatory limits and Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC) values to determine potential ecological and human health risks.Pollution and risk assessment indices-including Contamination Factor (CF), Bioconcentration Factor (BCF), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Carcinogenic Risk (CR)-were applied in characterizing metal bioaccumulation and associated exposure risks.Elevated concentrations of Cd, Ni, and Hg were detected in several species, notably Pagellus erythrinus, Merluccius merluccius, and Sparus aurata, with higher accumulation observed in gill and liver tissues.In several cases, calculated HI and CR values exceeded recommended safety thresholds, indicating potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for consumers.Multivariate tests, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis, revealed distinct metal accumulation patterns among species and highlighted sitespecific pollution influences.These findings emphasize the necessity for continuous coastal monitoring and integrated risk-based assessments to ensure seafood safety and to inform evidence-based environmental management and regulatory policies in Albania.