Risks and benefits associated with the consumption of three species of fish native to the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

In the Brazilian Amazon, fish is part of the diet and culture of the native population. With industrialization and the pollution of rivers, the number of cases of people contaminated by toxic pollutants present in fish has grown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze three species of fish from the Amazon, the curimatã, pescada-gó, and piramutaba, to investigate the risks and benefits associated with the consumption of their muscles and livers in different seasonal periods. The amino acid and fatty acid profiles were investigated by liquid and gas chromatography, respectively. The essential elements (Cu, Fe, Mg, Na, and Zn) were quantified by flame atomic emission spectrometry, and the contaminants lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) by flame atomic emission spectrometry and graphite furnace. Significant amounts of unsaturated fatty acids were found in muscle and liver. The polyunsaturated acids were more present in the pescada-gó and the monounsaturated in the curimatã. Contaminants (Pb and Hg) were found at levels higher than the limit allowed by Brazilian legislation. The curimatã species contributed more than 131.79% of the Hg, exceeding the tolerable weekly limit, and is considered unfit for consumption. The study demonstrated that constant biomonitoring of species traded in the region is necessary to ensure food security.