Evaluation of Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, and Cadmium in Some Species of Fish in the Atrato River Delta, Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

The concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic were evaluated in 96 samples, 12 by each one of the following eight fish species: snook (Centropomus undecimalis), crevalle jack (Caranx hippos), Serra Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus brasiliensis), southern red snapper (Lutjanus purpureus), blue runner (Caranx crysos), Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), ladyfish (Elops saurus), and Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), which were collected during 1 year in the Atrato River Delta in the Gulf of Uraba, Colombian Caribbean. Three fish were caught from each of the following sites the community usually uses to catch them (known as fishing grounds): Bahia Candelaria, Bahia Marirrio, Bocas del Roto, and Bocas del Atrato. The quantification of metals was performed by microwave-induced plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The Pb concentration fluctuated from 0.672 to 3.110 mg kg−1, surpassing the maximum permissible limit (MPL = 0.3 mg kg−1) for human consumption for all species. The Hg concentration ranged between < Limit of detection and 6.303 mg kg−1, and in the crevalle jack and Atlantic tarpon, concentrations exceeded the MPL (0.5 mg kg−1). The levels of Cd and As were not significant in the studied species and did not exceed the MPL (0.05 mg kg−1).