Metal Levels in Fish Captured in Puerto Rico and Estimation of Risk from Fish Consumption |
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Authors: | Imar Mansilla-Rivera Carlos J Rodríguez-Sierra |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, USA |
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Abstract: | Exposure to metals through fish consumption may represent a health risk, especially for high-fish-consumption populations
such as fishing communities in the Jobos Bay and La Parguera areas in Puerto Rico. This study determined levels of As, Cd,
Cu, Pb, Hg, Se, and Zn in muscle tissues of fish from the Jobos Bay and La Parguera (reference site) areas and estimated the
health risk posed by fish ingestion to local fishermen and their children. Fish collected included S. cavalla (“sierra”; n = 14), M. undulatus (“roncón”; n = 21), L. synagris (“arrayado”; n = 18), and L. analis (“sama”; n = 11) in the Jobos Bay area and S. regalis (sierra; n = 10) and L. synagris (arrayado; n = 8) in La Parguera. Only As and Hg were detected at levels of human health concern. Average As and Hg levels (μg/g, wet
wt) in the four species of Jobos Bay were 0.74 and 0.10 for roncón, 0.83 and 0.09 for sama, 1.00 and 0.26 for sierra, and
2.49 and 0.15 for arrayado, respectively. In La Parguera, average As and Hg levels (μg/g, wet wt) were 0.61 and 0.12 for sierra
and 1.27 and 0.20 for arrayado, respectively. At both sites, the species with the highest As levels was arrayado, while for
Hg, sierra obtained the highest concentrations. A risk estimation using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard exposure
factors, and assuming that 10% of total As is the inorganic form and 100% of the total Hg is methyl Hg, predicted adverse
health effects (cancer and noncancer) from fish consumption, being higher for children than for adults. However, speciation
of As in fish muscle is recommended for better risk estimates. Sierra fish from Jobos Bay triggered the most restricted consumption
advisories for Hg noncancer effects, where a child should not consume >1 fish meal (0.1135 kg)/month and adults should not
have >3 fish meals (0.227 kg)/month. Fish consumption advisories, particularly for Hg, should be established by the local
government to protect the health of susceptible populations such as children and pregnant or childbearing-age women. |
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