Concentração de mercúrio (Hg) em pescado comercializado no Mercado de Peixes de São Luís (MA) e a potencial exposição dos consumidores infantis

Abstract

Seafood is a food resource widely recognized for its benefits to human health due to its nutritional content that includes high quality proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. However, the consumption of seafood, especially of carnivorous species, is the main route of human exposure to mercury (Hg) which can negatively affect human health. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to quantify Hg concentrations in the nine most consumed species in the São Luís Fish Market (MA) and to estimate the exposure risk to Hg through seafood consumption, with emphasis on children consumers. Average Hg concentrations were highest in carnivore species, including the yellow hake, Cynoscion acoupa (0.296 ± 0,241 mg kg-1) and the croaker, Micropogonias undulatus (0.263 ± 0,089SD mg kg-1). The lowest average Hg concentrations were recorded in the mullet, Mugil curema (0.021 ± 0,009 mg kg-1) and the shorthead drum, Larimus breviceps (0.025 ± 0,009 mg kg-1). Significant correlations were observed between Hg concentrations and fish total length in two species: the banded catfish (Bagre catre) and the pompano catfish (Chloroscombrus crysurus), but not in the other species, due to the relatively uniform size of individuals and the small number of samples. Despite the relatively low concentrations of Hg, the estimated risk coefficients (IDE > RfD and CTP >1) estimated for yellow hake and croaker indicate that children’s consumers should restrict their consumption of these species. Considering the body weight of children (15 kg) and the estimated maximum safe fish amounts that can be ingested we developed consumption recommendtions for this type of consumer.