Arsenic contamination in widely consumed Caribbean sharpnose sharks in southeastern Brazil: Baseline data and concerns regarding fisheries resources

Fundação Instituto da Pesca do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Niterói, RJ, Brasil / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica). Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Departamento de Biologia Marinha. Laboratório de Biologia e Tecnologia Pesqueira. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro. Departamento de Química. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Universidade Federal Fluminense. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica). Niterói, RJ, Brasil / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Geoquímica. Laboratório de Geogquímica do Antropoceno. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos. Araruama, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

Abstract

Although shark meat is consumed worldwide, elevated arsenic (As) concentrations have been increasingly reported. The Caribbean sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon porosus) is a widely consumed fishing resource in Brazil, with scarce information on As burdens to date. Herein, commercial-sized juvenile Caribbean sharpnose sharks from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) were assessed in this regard, presenting significantly higher hepatic As concentrations in males (8.24 ± 1.20 mg kg-1 wet weight; n = 12) compared to females (6.59 ± 1.87 mg kg-1 w.w.; n = 8), and a positive correlation (r = 0.74) was noted between female muscle and liver As concentrations, indicating systemic inter-tissue transport not evidenced in males. Arsenic concentrations were over the maximum permissible As limit established in Brazilian legislation for seafood and calculated Target Hazard Quotients suggest consumption risks, although cancer risks were not evidenced. Therefore, Public Health concerns with regard to Caribbean sharpnose shark As burdens deserve careful attention.

Keywords in Portuguese

Arsênico total
Pesca artesanal
Contaminação de frutos do mar
Saúde Pública
Segurança alimentar

Keywords

Total arsenic
Artisanal fishing
Seafood contamination
Public health
Food safety

Publisher

Elsevier

Citation

MACIEL, Oswaldo Luiz de C. et al. Arsenic contamination in widely consumed Caribbean sharpnose sharks in southeastern Brazil: Baseline data and concerns regarding fisheries resources. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 172, 112905, p. 1 - 8, Aug. 2021.

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112905

ISSN

0025-326X

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/50194

Type

Copyright

Restricted access

Embargo date

2023

Sustainable Development Goals

Collections

Share

Statistics

Metadata

Author

Affilliation