Human Health Impacts Of Exposure To Metals Through Extreme Consumption Of Fish From The Colombian Caribbean Sea

The health risks of metal exposure due to the high consumption of fish were assessed for a riverine population living on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The concentrations of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the edible tissues of fish were determined and used for risk assessment. The daily fish consumption of residents (n = 95) was as high as 283, 366 and 469 g/day in children (CH), women of childbearing age (WCHA) and the remaining population groups (RP), respectively. The estimation of the potential risk (HQ) indicated that there was no health risk from most of the metals, because they did not exceed their related reference doses, with values of HQ < 1. Although the concentrations of Pb and Hg were not particularly high in fish (<0.2 µg/g), their possible health effects for vulnerable groups are of great concern due to the extremely high fish intake. The Pb intake for all groups was higher than the lower confidence limit of the benchmark dose for nephrotoxicity and neurodevelopmental effects in children. The weekly intake of methylmercury was also elevated, with values approximately 3, 2 and 1.5 times the provisional tolerable weekly intake for CH, WCHA and RP, respectively. Moreover, higher Hg levels were found in top predators, whereas maximum levels for other metals were found in bottom-feeding fish. This study highlights that an accurate data of daily intake, a continuous monitoring of metals in fish and their related fish consumption advisories to protect subsistence fishing communities are recommended in a local and worldwide context

Assessment Of Human Health Risk Associated With Methylmercury In The Imported Fish Marketed In The Caribbean

The decline in marine and freshwaters catches in recent years in Colombia has led to a change in dietary habits, with an increase in the purchase and consumption of imported fish. This is of particular concern as fish are sometimes caught in mercury-contaminated waters, and are subsequently sold canned or uncanned. In addition, canned tuna has received little attention as it is widely assumed that concentrations are low. In this study, total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were evaluated in three imported fish species marketed in Colombia, Prochilodus lineatus, Prochilodus reticulatus, and Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, plus four brands of canned tuna and one of sardines. One brand of tuna showed the highest mean concentrations of THg (0.543 ± 0.237 μg/g, wet weight, ww) and MeHg (0.518 ± 0.337 μg/g ww), while concentrations in P. hypophthalmus were approximately 30 times lower (≈0.02 µg/g ww). The estimated weekly intake (EWI) in children was above the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of MeHg established by the Joint FAO/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 2007, 1.6 μg/kg body weight (bw) per week, for all the canned tuna brands. Values for adults were below PTWI, whereas for women of childbearing age, values were above PTWI only for brand D of canned tuna. The estimate of the potential risk indicated that MeHg levels in canned tuna can generate negative effects in vulnerable groups, while the EWI of fresh fish did not pose a threat to the general population. Therefore, establishing strategies to address the high consumption of canned tuna, and continuous monitoring to control commercial food, are recommended to decrease Hg exposure

Metales pesados en especies ícticas de la ciénaga de Mallorquín, Colombia

Se evaluaron las concentraciones de metales pesados en el tejido muscular y hepático de especies ícticas de la ciénaga de Mallorquín. Las muestras fueron analizadas por espectrometría de absorción atómica. Las concentraciones más altas de zinc, plomo y níquel se registraron en el hígado de la especie Mugil curema (28.71±14.1, 0.31±0.32, 0.22±0.07 µg/g, respectivamente), como también las de cromo (1.31±0.68 µg/g) pero en el tejido muscular. Por último, se evidenció que todas las especies capturadas están bioacumulando metales pesados en ambos tejidos, lo cual podría generar problemas de salud pública por la ingesta de estos peces.The concentrations of heavy metals were evaluated in muscle and liver tissue of fish species in the Mallorquín swamp. The samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest concentrations of zinc, lead and nickel were recorded in the liver of the species Mugil curema (28.71±14.1, 0.31±0.32, 0.22±0.07 µg/g respectively), as well as chromium (1.31±0.68 µg/g) but in muscle tissue. Finally, it was evidenced that all species captured are bioaccumulating heavy metals in both tissues, which could generate public health problems by the ingestion of these fis

Metales pesados en especies ícticas de la ciénaga de Mallorquín, Colombia

Se evaluaron las concentraciones de metales pesados en el tejido muscular y hepático de especies ícticas de la ciénaga de Mallorquín. Las muestras fueron analizadas por espectrometría de absorción atómica. Las concentraciones más altas de zinc, plomo y níquel se registraron en el hígado de la especie Mugil curema (28.71±14.1, 0.31±0.32, 0.22±0.07 µg/g, respectivamente), como también las de cromo (1.31±0.68 µg/g) pero en el tejido muscular. Por último, se evidenció que todas las especies capturadas están bioacumulando metales pesados en ambos tejidos, lo cual podría generar problemas de salud pública por la ingesta de estos peces.The concentrations of heavy metals were evaluated in muscle and liver tissue of fish species in the Mallorquín swamp. The samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest concentrations of zinc, lead and nickel were recorded in the liver of the species Mugil curema (28.71±14.1, 0.31±0.32, 0.22±0.07 µg/g respectively), as well as chromium (1.31±0.68 µg/g) but in muscle tissue. Finally, it was evidenced that all species captured are bioaccumulating heavy metals in both tissues, which could generate public health problems by the ingestion of these fis

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

non present