Heavy Metals in Muscle Tissue of Pterois volitans from the Veracruz Reef System National Park, Mexico.

Montoya-Mendoza Montoya-Mendoza,Alarcón-Reyes Alarcón-Reyes,Castañeda-Chávez Castañeda-Chávez,Zamudio-Alemán Zamudio-Alemán,Lango-Reynoso Lango-Reynoso

doi:10.3390/ijerph16234611

Abstract

Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn) were measured in the muscle of 30 specimens of Pterois volitans, captured on April 2018, in the Veracruz Reef System National Park (VRSNP), Veracruz, Mexico. Concentrations, in the samples, were quantified with atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), after microwave digestion. Results of the mean concentration, in descending order were V = 7.3 ± 0.7; Pb = 0.66 ± 0.07; Zn = 0.43 ± 0.14; and Cd = 0.03 ± 0.01 mg kg−1 dry weight. These values did not exceeded limits established in the Mexican National Standard (NOM-242-SSA1-2009), of Cd and Pb (0.5 mg kg−1) wet weight. This means that consumption of lionfish from this site does not pose a potential risk for human health.

Highlights

The Veracruz Reef System National Park (VRSNP) is located in an area with high urban, agricultural, and industrial development, signifying the presence of multiple contaminant sources for the marine environment
Materials and Methods In April 2018, 30 specimens of P. volitans were captured in five reefs of the VRSNP, as follows: Pájaros
The presence of heavy metals (HMs) was detected in muscle tissue of P. volitans from the VRSNP

Summary

Introduction

The Veracruz Reef System National Park (VRSNP) is located in an area with high urban, agricultural, and industrial development, signifying the presence of multiple contaminant sources for the marine environment. It has a strong continental influence from discharges of the rivers La Antigua, Jamapa, and Papaloapan, carrying a number of chemical substances [1]. Lionfish, Pterois volitans, whose natural distribution is in the Indo-Pacific region [9], was registered in the Anegada de Adentro reef of the VRSNP, in 2012 [10] This organism represents an ecological problem because it is an invasive species that affects local fish populations and is considered a top consumer in places it has invaded, due to the lack of a natural predator. Public Health 2019, 16, 4611; doi:10.3390/ijerph16234611 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

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