Mercury contamination in alligators (Melanosuchus niger) from Mamirauá Reservoir (Brazilian Amazon) and human health risk assessment

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 21; no. 23; pp. 13522 - 13527
• Main Authors: Correia, Jozélia, Cesar, Ricardo, Marsico, Eliane, Diniz, George Tadeu Nunes, Zorro, Mauricio Camargo, Castilhos, Zuleica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Age Factors; Alligator; Alligators; Alligators and Crocodiles; Animals; Aquatic animals; Aquatic environment; Aquatic Pollution; Aquatic reptiles; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioaccumulation; Birds; Brazil; Consumption; Contamination; dose response; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental effects; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental stress; Female; fish consumption; Food Contamination - analysis; Health; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Human exposure; human health; Humans; Indicator organisms; Ingestion; Markets; Melanosuchus; Melanosuchus niger; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mercury - analysis; Muscles; Muscles - chemistry; Research Article; Reservoirs; Risk; Risk Assessment; Sustainable development; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; World Health Organization; Amazonia; Brazil; South America, Amazon R; Brazilian Amazon; Risk; Human health; Alligator; Mercury
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3282-0

Mercury (Hg) concentrations in muscles of wild alligators (Melanosuchus niger) from the Mamirauá Reservoir (a reference area in the Brazilian Amazon) and the human health risks associated with its consumption were assessed. The mean Hg concentration in alligator muscles was 0.407 ± 0.114 μg/g (N = 61). Close to 5 % of the muscle samples showed Hg levels above the World Health Organization guideline for fish consumption (0.5 μg/g). A positive and significant relationship was observed between Hg concentrations in muscle and the age of the specimens. The dose-response approach suggests that close to 27.4 years is required for half of the exposed specimens to attain 0.5 μg/g. The hazard quotient (HQ) is a risk indicator which defines the ratio of exposure level and a toxicological reference dose. HQ resulted above the unity for all the specimens when the ingestion rate for riverine communities (200 g of muscle per day) is considered, indicating the existence of hazard. When the ingestion rate for market consumers (28.57 g/day) is considered, the risks are much lower (mean HQ = 0.55), suggesting that such group is not at risk. The establishment of local and regional ingestion rates for riverine populations and market consumers is extremely recommended.