Danger on the plate: human health risks derived from the consumption of angular angelshark (Squatina guggenheim) meat in southeastern Brazil

Metal and metalloid contamination, oxidative stress and genotoxicity in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from an important eutrophicated lagoon in southeastern Brazil.

Heavy metal and metalloid contamination and related risks for the environment and human health are matters of increasing concern. This study assessed metal and metalloid concentrations in soil, surface water, and locally grown vegetable to assess exposure and related risks for the environment and human health in the northeastern rural area of Hanoi. Concentrations of metals and metalloids in soils exceeded regulatory thresholds in some locations (e.g., Me Linh and Gia Lam districts). The carcinogenic elements As and Cr were identified as a major concern with concentrations up to 693μgg-1 and 147μgg-1, respectively. Industrial point sources or groundwater irrigation practices in the intensive organic farming areas were identified as potential factors contributing to the accumulation of carcinogenic metals and metalloids in topsoil layers. Metal and metalloid concentrations detected in water and vegetables were below the regulatory threshold levels (WHO guideline and maximum allowable limits). While contamination was not observed at a large geographical scale, local soil contamination in specific areas of agricultural importance could pose high ecological and human health-related risks with unclear long-term impacts. The highly carcinogenic soil contamination detected in this study may be a factor adding to the increased cancer incidence rate in Hanoi area, as the total carcinogenic risk calculated for Hanoi area exceeds the cancer likelihood threshold by a factor of 25. Further research is needed to examine potential links, and the involvement of both stakeholders and policy makers is needed to adequately evaluate the risks for Hanoi area and coordinate future remediation plans if risks are justified.

A single muscle plug was collected from each of 25 live razorback suckers inhabiting the Colorado River basin and analyzed for selenium by instrumental neutron activation. Eight fish from Ashley Creek and three from Razorback Bar exhibited selenium concentrations exceeding 8 μg/g, a level associated with reproductive failure in fish. Concentrations of selenium in eggs and milt were significantly correlated with selenium concentrations in muscle plugs and together indicate a possible explanation for the decline of this species in the Colorado River basin. Muscle plugs (<50mg) and muscle tissue (20 g) were collected from dorsal, anterior, and posterior areas of common carp, flannelmouth sucker, and an archived razorback sucker and analyzed for selenium. Concentrations of selenium in muscle plugs were significantly correlated with selenium concentrations in muscle tissue from the same location and fish (r=0.97). Coefficients of variation for selenium concentrations in each fish were <6.5% for muscle tissue, but ranged from 1.5 to 32.4% for muscle plugs. Increased variation in muscle plugs was attributed to lower selenium concentrations found in the anterior muscle plugs of flannelmouth suckers. Mean selenium concentrations in muscle plugs and tissue from dorsal and posterior areas and muscle tissue from the anterior area were not significantly different. The non-lethal collection of a muscle plug from dorsal and posterior areas of the razorback sucker and other fish species may provide an accurate assessment of selenium concentrations that exist in adjacent muscle tissue.

Metal concentrations in the muscle and liver tissues of fishes from the Erren River in southwestern Taiwan were analyzed to evaluate the pollution status after the completion of the restoration plan in 2000. It was the first time the tissue concentrations of 4 important elements, i.e. Fe, Mn, As and Hg, were reported in fishes from this area. Samples were collected in January 2002 at the junction of the Erren River and the Sanyegong River, the most polluted section of the river. Five fish species, Megalops cyprinoids (Indo-Pacific tarpon), Chanos chanos (milkfish), Liza macrolepis (large-scaled mullet), Mugil cephalus (striped mullet) and Orechromis sp. (tilapia) were collected. A total of 91 fishes were dissected and the muscle and liver tissues taken for analysis of seven metals, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, As, Hg and Cd, on a wet weight basis (mg/kg). Among them, Fe and Zn were the highest, followed by Cu, Mn and As, while the Hg and Cd concentrations were the lowest. Except for As and Hg, which showed higher concentrations in the muscle tissues than in the livers, the remaining elements showed higher concentrations in livers. Significant species differences were found in all elements and tissues. The highest concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in muscles were found in tilapia (4.04), striped mullet (4.38), large-scaled mullet (0.20) and milkfish (0.534), respectively. The highest concentrations of As and Hg were found in striped mullet (1.59) and Indo-Pacific tarpon (0.081), respectively. The highest concentrations of Fe (3122), Hg (0.045) and Cd (0.123) were found in livers of large-scaled mullet, while striped mullet had the highest concentration of Zn (77.6), Cu (78.2) and As (2.39). The level of Mn in tilapia was 1.32 mg/kg. The Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations of the muscles and livers were mostly 7-50% lower than the levels reported on the same species of the same tissue before the restoration indicating the improvement on the metal pollution status. The heavy metal concentrations in this area were similar to various uncontaminated areas around Taiwan and all were within the food standard levels of the FDA and NHMRC.

The changes in the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), oxygen (δ18O), and mercury (Hg) concentrations in muscle and liver tissues during and after lactation were studied in killer whales stranded along the coast of Hokkaido, in the northern area of Japan (n = 16). Calf muscles displayed δ13C- and δ15N-enriched peaks and a δ18O-depleted peak during lactation. The δ13C- and δ15N-enriched peaks appear to reflect the extensive nursing of 13C- and 15N-enriched milk and the onset of weaning, whereas the δ18O-depleted peak may be attributable to the extensive nursing of 18O-depleted milk and the onset of weaning. The δ13C and δ15N values tended to gradually increase after the weaning, whereas the δ18O values tended to decrease. The δ13C and δ15N levels in calves were similar between liver and muscle samples, whereas those in mature animals were higher in liver than in muscle samples. The isotopic turnover rates of C and N may be similar between the liver and muscle tissues in calves, which are rapidly growing animals. The Hg concentrations in muscle tissues were slightly higher in small calves than in large calves, probably due to the Hg transfer across placenta. The Hg concentrations in liver and muscle samples increased with increasing body length, and those in two liver samples from mature animals exceeded the high-risk threshold for marine mammal health effects (82 μg/wet g).

The global issue of metal contamination in sharks, rays and skates and associated human health risks

The present research report the heavy metal (Cu, Pb and Zn) contamination in muscle tissue of three species of fish (silver carp, common carp and grass carp) caught from Zarivar international wetland. Heavy metal concentrations (ig g”1, wet weight; means±S.D.) in silver carp, common carp and grass carp muscle tissue were: Cu0.006 ±0.005, 0.01±0.008 and 0.013.91±0.011, Pb0.008±0.006, 0.006±0.003 and 0.011±0.007, Zn0.013±0.009, 0.017±0.014 and 0.009±0.008, respectively. Comparative evaluation of these metals in different fish species showed that the average concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn of all species is significantly lower than adverse level for the species themselves and for human consumption when compared with FAO/WHO permissible limits. Therefore, their contribution to the total body burden of these heavy metals can be considered as negligibly small. key words: Heavy metal, Food safety, Maximum contamination limit, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella.

An ecological survey of the concentration and distribution of mercury in terrestrial and aquatic systems near the mercury mine at Almaden, Spain, was initiated in 1974. Field studies were completed in 1977, and chemical analyses were completed in 1979. Sample collection at Almaden followed a trophic-level approach in which certain compartments were sampled at a given instant in time (fall 1974, fall 1975, spring 1976, fall 1976, spring 1977). Mean total mercury concentration in terrestrial plants (8 taxa combined) ranged from >100 ..mu..g/g within 0.5 km of the mine to 1 ..mu..g/g 20 km distant from the mine. Different plant species had different affinities for mercury, but moss species usually had higher total mercury concentration than vascular plants. Woody plants were lower in mercury concentration than forbs. Total mercury concentration in muscle, brain, kidney, and liver tissue from mice was highest at a station near the stream receiving liquid effluent from the mine (mean total mercury at this station ranging from 0.18 ..mu..g/g in muscle to 4.74 ..mu..g/g in kidney). Approximately 15 to 30% of total mercury in mouse tissue was in the methylated form. Total mercury concentration in muscle tissue from house sparrows varied inversely with distance from the mine, with highest concentrations exceeding 0.1 ..mu..g/g. Approximately 1 to 4% of total mercury in sparrow muscle was in the methylated form.

Evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in silky sharks Carcharhinus falciformis collected from Western Indian Ocean and human health risk assessment

L-Carnitine concentration was determined in vastus lateralis and abdominal rectus muscle tissue from 15 patients with diabetes mellitus and 66 controls. Nine of the diabetics were treated with diet and hypoglycemic drugs only and six with insulin. The carnitine concentration was determined enzymatically with labeled [I-14C] acetyl-coenzyme-A as a substrate and given per weight of non-collagen protein. The concentration in muscle tissue did not differ significantly between patients and controls. Patients with insulin-treated diabetes had the same concentration of carnitine in muscle tissue as those treated with hypoglycemic drugs. The drastic decreases in carnitine muscle concentration and in carnitine body pool seen in alloxan-diabetic rats are not observed in skeletal muscle of diabetic humans.

ABSTRACTBiomonitoring of the local population and environmental monitoring in eastern Croatia have revealed abnormalities in metal and metalloid distribution that could be related to war activities during the 1990s. The goal of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the concentrations of metals and metalloids by comparing locations of high and low-intensity combat activity; we also evaluated a possible connection between metal contamination in soil and in humans. We sampled 14 locations and measured the concentrations of 20 war related metals and metalloids (Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, U, V and Zn). The results of principal components analysis showed two main clusters: locations Dopsin and Dalj (both characterized by high-intensity combat activity), where the concentrations of most elements (except Hg) were increased. Although the concentrations of metals and metalloids in cabbage samples collected in eastern Croatia did not exceed the maximum allowed values, the results of our study confirmed existance of environmental ‘hotspot’ with higher concentrations of war metals and metalloids. Our findings indicate that there is a possible common source and mechanism of transferring metals from the environment to the population.

The purpose of this study was to quantify total mercury concentrations in three species of fish in three lakes of western Maryland: Piney Creek reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Lake Habeeb. We measured total mercury concentrations in water from each lake and muscle tissue from 119 fish collected in fall 2000: 15 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 15 yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and 15 bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from the Piney Creek reservoir; 15 largemouth bass, 15 yellow perch, and 14 bluegill from Deep Creek Lake; and 15 largemouth bass and 15 bluegill from Lake Habeeb. Average total mercury concentrations (+/- SD) in surface waters were 0.96 +/- 0.03 ng L(-1) for the Piney Creek reservoir, 0.56 +/- 0.07 ng L(-1) for Deep Creek Lake, and 0.40 +/- 0.05 ng L(-1) for Lake Habeeb. These water quality differences were sometimes reflected in the total mercury concentration in fish muscle tissue. Total mercury concentrations in bluegill (0.05 +/- 0.02 microg g(-1)) and largemouth bass (0.10 +/- 0.03 microg g(-1)) from Lake Habeeb were significantly (p < 0.001) lower than the total mercury concentrations in bluegill and largemouth bass from the Piney Creek reservoir (bluegill: 0.13 +/- 0.04 microg g(-1) and largemouth bass: 0.37 +/- 0.18 microg g(-1)) and Deep Creek Lake (bluegill: 0.11 +/- 0.04 microg g(-1) and largemouth bass: 0.30 +/- 0.09 microg g(-1)). Yellow perch from the Piney Creek reservoir had significantly higher total mercury concentrations than yellow perch from Deep Creek Lake (0.20 +/- 0.08 microg g(-1) versus 0.13 +/- 0.04 microg g(-1)). In contrast, total mercury concentrations in largemouth bass from the Piney Creek reservoir and Deep Creek Lake were not significantly different. With the exception of largemouth bass from Lake Habeeb and yellow perch from Deep Creek Lake, there were relatively strong (r(2) > 0.39-0.79) log-log relationships between the size (weight and length) of the fish and total mercury concentrations in muscle tissue. The largest largemouth bass (> 800 g and > 38 cm) from both Deep Creek Lake and the Piney Creek reservoir had total mercury concentrations that exceeded the consumption advisory of 0.5 microg g(-1) that is used by many states and Canada. In contrast, total mercury concentrations in largemouth bass from Lake Habeeb did not exceed this consumption advisory. Our results suggest that fish consumption advisories are needed for largemouth bass in the Piney Creek reservoir and Deep Creek Lake.

Comparative effects of polymyxin B and compound [formula omitted] on histamine metabolism in rat muscle and gastric tissue

Fish pollution with anthropogenic 137Cs in the southern Baltic Sea

Heavy metal (HM) pollution from natural processes and different anthropogenic activities pose significant human and environmental health risks because of their stability, non-degradable properties, and high toxicity. HM released into the air in the form of dust can enter the human body via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Keeping in mind the significance of estimating the risk from HM in different environments, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks to workers caused by HM in kiln dust (KD) samples collected from coal-fired clay brick factories in the Western Black Sea Region of Türkiye were assessed for the first time in this study. The concentrations of major and minor oxides and HMs in the collected KD samples were analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The average concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Cu, As, Co and Pb analyzed in thirty-three KD samples were determined as 65444, 768, 251, 249, 248, 122, 60, 52, 42 and 16 mg/kg dw, respectively. The average levels of Ni, As, Cr, Co and Cu exceed the maximum contaminant levels recommended in the Turkish Regulation on Control of Soil Pollution. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risk assessments for workers via three exposure pathways were carried out, estimating the hazard index (HI) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) index, respectively. The HI values (< 1) revealed no possible non-carcinogenic health risk due to exposure to all HMs in the studied KD samples. The average TCR value revealed that the potential cancer risks for Ni, As, Cr, and Pb were slightly above the safe limit and required monitoring and further investigation for these HMs.