Mercury in fish that are of dietary importance from the coasts of Sinaloa (SE Gulf of California)

Abstract

Within the framework of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among Canada, the United States and Mexico, a relevant issue related to the environment and human health is the reduction of mercury (Hg) emissions. Such emissions are being released from diverse anthropogenic actions including industrial and commercial processes, and urban and production activities. It has been established that almost 90% of human health risks associated to fish consumption are due to Hg contaminated fish. With the aim of giving an overview on the Hg levels in the edible portion of fish of dietary importance, fish with different feeding habits from six locations in Sinaloa State (Mexico) were analyzed. Analyses of Hg were made by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry (CV-AAS). The highest concentrations of Hg (3.32 μg g −1 dry weight) in muscle tissue were found in the Pacific crevalle jack Caranx caninus (carnivorous) from Topolobampo lagoon. In general, it was found that Hg levels in muscle tissue were higher in carnivorous than in non-carnivorous fish. Special attention should be paid to those species whose average Hg content is close to the acceptable limit (like C. caninus from Topolobampo bay), since this species is widely consumed in the human diet on the Mexican coasts.