Toxicological risk in individuals exposed to methylmercury and total mercury through daily-consumed foodstuffs in one of the mining regions of Bajo Cauca, Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

Mercury (Hg), and its different chemical forms, such as methylmercury (MeHg), are highly toxic compounds that affect the environment as well as human and animal health. Specifically, mining practices may cause these metals to be present in water, air, soil, and food. This study examines the concentration levels of Hg and MeHg in locally-consumed foodstuffs, including fish, pork, chicken, yam, plantain, and cassava, in a specific region of Antioquia (Colombia) by assessing the toxicological risk to the population due to the exploitation of open-pit alluvial mining in the area. Among foods examined, the highest amount of Hg was found in fish > pork > chicken > cassava > plantain > yam (ranging from 207.87 to 0.23 μg/g). Conversely, MeHg was identified in cassava > fish > plantain > chicken > yam > pork in amounts ranging from 1.567 to 0.434 μg/g. The risk exposure factors of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for Hg and MeHg exhibited a trend similar to the amount of metal in the assessed foods. This work contributed to characterizing and preventing public health problems in a mining population in the Bajo Cauca region of Antioquia, which requires special attention due to their potential exposure to Hg and MeHg through the most locally consumed foods.