Mercury concentrations in Baja California Sur fish: Dietary exposure assessment
Total mercury concentrations ([THg]) in muscle were determined in commercial finfish and elasmobranchs from Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico to evaluate dietary Hg exposure for BCS communities, including the relationship of trophic ecology, length and mass with [THg] that might drive future consumption advice (e.g., recommend limited consumption of large fish for some species). The [THg] ranged from 0.06 to 528.02 mg kg1 ww in finfish and 17.68e848.26 mg kg1 ww in elasmobranchs. Relative to the consumption threshold set for predatory fish in Mexico, all species had a concentration below 1000 mg kg1 ww. As expected, 16 (4.02%) and 75 (18.84%) individual fish were above advisory thresholds of 500 and 200 mg kg1 ww, respectively. The hazard quotients (HQs) in most species were significantly <1.0, only banded guitarfish showed a significant median HQ > 1.0. Thus, the relative level of risk of high Hg exposure is low for most species.
Authors:
- Daniela A. Murillo-Cisneros — Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Del Noroeste, S.C. Planeacion Ambiental y Conservacion. Instituto Politecnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23096, Mexico
- Tania Zenteno-Savín — Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Del Noroeste, S.C. Planeacion Ambiental y Conservacion.
- John Harley — Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center, University of Alaska Southeast, 11175 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, AK, 99801, USA
- Andrew Cyr — Biomedical Learning and Student Training, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2141 Koyukuk Dr., Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
- Pablo Hernandez-Almaraz — Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Del Noroeste, S.C. Planeacion Ambiental y Conservacion.
- Ramon Gaxiola-Robles — Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Del Noroeste, S.C. Planeacion Ambiental y Conservacion and Hospital General de Zona No.1. Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social. 5 de Febrero y Heroes de La Independencia, Centro, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23000, Mexico
- Felipe Galvan-Magaña — Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Av. I.P.N. S/n, Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita, Apartado Postal 592, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23000, Mexico
- Todd M. O’Hara — Bilingual Laboratory of Toxicology, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA