Heavy metal contamination in duck eggs from a mercury mining area, southwestern China

• Published in: Frontiers in public health Vol. 12; p. 1352043
• Main Authors: Guo, Xiaoling, Wang, Zhuhong, Li, Xue, Liao, Jing, Zhang, Xue, Ran, Yulin, Wu, Qixin, Zhang, Ting, Wang, Zhongwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 28.02.2024
• Subjects: caged duck eggs; free-range duck eggs; health risk; heavy metal; mercury mine area; Public Health; caged duck eggs; health risk; heavy metal; mercury mine area; free-range duck eggs
• ISSN: 2296-2565; 2296-2565
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1352043

Mercury (Hg) contamination in the environment around mercury mines is often accompanied by heavy metal contamination. Here, we determined concentrations of chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in duck eggs from a Hg mining area in Southwest China to assess the contamination and health risk. Duck eggs obtained from the mining area exhibit higher concentrations of Cr, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb compared to those from the background area, with egg yolks containing higher metal levels than egg whites. Specifically, the mean Cr, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb concentrations of duck eggs from the Hg mining area are 0.38, 63.06, 4.86, 10.08, and 0.05 μg/g, respectively, while those from the background area are only 0.21, 24.65, 1.43, 1.05, and 0.01 μg/g. Based on the single-factor contamination index and health risk assessment, heavy metal contamination in duck eggs poses an ecological risk and health risk. This study provides important insight into heavy metal contamination in duck eggs from Hg mining areas.