Integrated Risk Assessment of Chemical Exposure in Food Systems and Human Health

Abstract

This study evaluates the health risks associated with heavy metal contamination in seafood consumption within modern food systems, focusing on contamination sources, environmental drivers, exposure pathways, and toxicological effects. Using a qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, this study synthesizes recent research to examine how heavy metals enter aquatic environments and accumulate in marine organisms. The findings indicate that contamination is influenced by multiple factors, including industrial pollution, aquaculture practices, and climate-related changes that affect metal mobility and bioavailability. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are identified as key processes contributing to human exposure through seafood consumption. At the biological level, heavy metals exert toxic effects through mechanisms such as oxidative stress and cellular damage, leading to potential long-term health risks. This study highlights the need for integrated risk assessment approaches that consider environmental dynamics and cumulative exposure in evaluating seafood safety