A review of mercury contamination in representative flora and fauna of Iran: seafood consumption advisories

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials advances Vol. 10; p. 100291
• Main Authors: Joorabian Shooshtari, Sharif, Abdollahzadeh, Esmail, Esmaili-Sari, Abbas, Ghasempouri, Seyed Mahmoud
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2023
• Subjects: Bioaccumulation; Caspian Sea; Fish consumption; Mercury contamination; Caspian Sea; Bioaccumulation; Mercury contamination; Fish consumption
• ISSN: 2772-4166; 2772-4166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100291

Mercury (Hg) is one of the most important environmental toxicants affecting wildlife. Hg is considered a well-known global toxicant, causing severe health problems in humans. The consumption of fisheries products that contain methylmercury (MeHg) is an important source of Hg exposure in humans. This paper presents a comprehensive review of mercury pollution in Iran's food web species during the last decade. The average muscle mercury concentration in fish species was 0.73 ± 1.09 mg/kg and ranged from 5.61 ± 1.06 in Euryglossa orientalis to 0.15 ± 0.04 mg/kg in Alosa caspia persica. Mean concentrations of total mercury in the muscle of oriental sole, mudskipper, white cheek shark, and pike were higher than other studied species. According to these data, monthly seafood consumption limits based on Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) guidelines were suggested. Among the birds of Iran, average Hg concentrations were: breast feathers > liver > kidney > muscle. The average mercury levels of the birds studied ranged from 9.25 ± 1.71 in the kidney of Phalacrocorax carbo to 0.3 ± 0.10 mg/kg in the secondary feathers of Bubo bubo. The highest mercury level observed among mammals was in Caspian seal hair (10.12 mg/kg). [Display omitted]