In this regard, heavy metal contamination is recognized as a
public health hazard because of the widespread diffusion of these
compounds in the environment, including the marine ecosystem
(
7
). Heavy metals can be accumulated by marine organisms due to
their presence in water and sediments or in the marine food chain
(
8
,
9
). Thus, diets containing seafood represent the main route of
exposure to these elements in the general human population (
3
).