Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the bioaccumulation of mercury in 13 species of fish with different eating habits, captured in the Três Marias Reservoir, São Francisco Basin, from March 2012 to April 2013. The results obtained showed that the species with carnivorous eating habit presented the highest average concentrations of mercury in muscle, especially Serrasalmus brandtii (pirambeba) and Pygocentrus piraya (piranha), with concentrations of 0.4147 ± 0.2744 μg g-1 and 0.17774 ± 0.2980 μg g-1, respectively. Considering the average concentrations, all the species studied showed levels of mercury below the maximum limit of 0.5 μg g-1 in non-predatory fish and 1.0 μg g-1 in predatory fish, established by the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Taking each species into account, the minimum and maximum values of mercury in the muscular and hepatic tissues showed a wide dispersion. In 4% of the specimens of pirambeba and 7% of piranha, the contents of mercury in muscle exceeded the limit established by ANVISA for predatory fish, and therefore, were unfit for human consumption. The other species did not present muscle samples with Hg content above that established by law. Due to its carnivorous eating habit and its wide distribution in the São Francisco Basin, Serrasalmus brandtii can be considered a biomonitor, capable of bioaccumulating mercury, thus indicating the level of contamination in the aquatic environment in which it lives.
Highlights
Fish is an important part of a healthy human diet
Total mercury levels were analyzed in 311 specimens belonging to a group of 13 fish species caught in the Três Marias Reservoir (Figure 2), with different eating habits (6 carnivores, 4 omnivores, 2 detriivores and 1 herbivore)
The concentrations were compared with biometric data and with the maximum Hg limits in fish for human consumption, stipulated by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA, 2013)
Summary
Fish is an important part of a healthy human diet. Undefined fish of high quality proteins and other nutrients essential to the diet, are low in saturated fat and acidified omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish can contribute to heart health and the proper growth and development of children. Women and children in particular should include fish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits. The best-known and cited case of mercury poisoning occurred more than six decades ago in the Japanese city of Minamata, where several people died and suffered from neurological symptoms associated with the consumption of fish and seafood contaminated with methylmercury (MeHg)
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