Toxic trace elements tend to accumulate in the Sea of Marmara, a semi‐enclosed body of water, exacerbating pollution and posing a threat to human health through the consumption of bottom‐dwelling fish. Mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic concentrations in two commercially important species, whiting ( Merlangius merlangus euxinus ) and tub gurnard ( Chelidonichthys lucerna ), were investigated from eight different locations. Considering the regulatory limits (EU Regulation 2023/915), Hg levels in whiting surpassed the safety threshold, while in tub gurnard the concentrations were higher than 0.30 g/kg at three sampling sites. None of the samples reached the limit values set for Cd and Pb. Although no official limit has been established for As in fish, its concentrations were found to be notable in both species. Overall, whiting presented a higher level of toxicological risk compared to tub gurnard. Total target hazard quotients (TTHQs) exceeded the safety threshold of 1 for individuals weighing 50 kg—typically adolescents or young adults—at all whiting sampling locations, indicating potential health risks for this sensitive population. In tub gurnard, TTHQ values surpassed 1 at only three locations. Notably, the highest TTHQ for Hg was recorded in samples from the western region of the sea, exceeding 1 for all individuals, further underscoring the potential risk associated with consumption. The carcinogenic Target Risk (TR) for inorganic As was found to be unacceptable in whiting captured from this location for all body weights and from the southern location for 50 kg people. Individuals with lower body weight are more susceptible to the risks associated with consuming demersal fish. To mitigate the risks of bioaccumulation, it is advisable to diversify frequently consumed foods.

Plastic waste has accumulated in the aquatic ecosystem as a result of the increasing use of plastic in recent years and their wrong recycling policies. Plastic pollution has become a global problem with its effects on aquatic organisms. Plastics that break down into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) due to different physical, chemical and biological factors in the environment enter the food chain and directly threaten human health. As a result of widespread plastic pollution, microplastics and nanoplastics are ingested by many different species, from zooplankton, fish, shellfish to marine mammals. Microplastics that enter into marine organisms can move within living tissue and move between tissue and organ. However, some stages in seafood processing technologies can also be a source of microplastic contamination. Physical, chemical and biological toxicity effects caused by microplastics are not fully known yet. In future studies, it is important to examine and determine the source and transmission routes of microplastics in seafood for consumer health. In this review, the risks of microplastics entering the food chain from aquatic ecosystems in seafood products in terms of food safety are discussed, and analytical methods for the identification and extraction of micro-plastics in this research area are examined.