Potentially toxic trace elements in the muscle of coastal South American fish: Implications for human consumption and health risk assessment

Abstract

Micropogonias furnieri and Urophycis brasiliensis are two coastal demersal fish species distributedin the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Considering that many coastal areas in thesouthwestern Atlantic Ocean suffer from anthropogenic pressure, the aim of thisstudy was to assess the level of potentially toxic trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb,Se, Sr, V and Zn) in the muscle of coastal species, and evaluated the humanhealth risk related to the consumption of muscle. Mercury, inorganic As (Asi), V, and Se showed a highercontribution to the total THQ. Considering two possible scenarios, Asi represents 1% or 5%of the total As, the total THQ was <1 for general population and of somehealth concerns for fishermen population (Total THQ>1; 5% Asi). Consequentlythese results show the importance of quantifying As species in muscle togenerate more reliable risk estimates for human health.