Mercury bioaccumulation in the spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) from the Atlantic Ocean

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 60; no. 8; pp. 1372 - 1375
• Main Authors: Coelho, J.P., Santos, H., Reis, A.T., Falcão, J., Rodrigues, E.T., Pereira, M.E., Duarte, A.C., Pardal, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Atlantic Ocean; Bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Dogfish; Economics; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Elasmobranchii; Environmental Monitoring; Female; Females; Fishes - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender differentiation; Gills - metabolism; Lifespan bioaccumulation pattern; Liver - metabolism; Male; Marine; Mercury; Mercury - metabolism; Metal body distribution; Muscles; Muscles - metabolism; Myocardium - metabolism; Pancreas - metabolism; Pollution abatement; Reproduction; Scyliorhinus canicula; Sex Factors; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Atlantic Ocean; A, Atlantic; Gender differentiation; Lifespan bioaccumulation pattern; Metal body distribution; Scyliorhinus canicula; Mercury; Edible fish; Toxicity; Sex; Heavy metal; Marine environment; Trace element; Vertebrata; Pisces; Distribution; Body compartment; Chondrichthyes; Biological accumulation; Age
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.05.008

The annual and life-cycle mercury bioaccumulation pattern in selected tissues of the economically relevant Elasmobranchii species Scyliorhinus canicula was studied, and the risks associated with its consumption evaluated. Preferential mercury bioaccumulation occurred in muscle tissue, and followed the order muscle>heart>liver>gills>pancreas. Total mercury in muscle tissue ranged from 0.13mgkg−1 (wwt) in 1+year old males to 0.8mgkg−1 (wwt) in 8+ year old mature females, with no significant differences found between genders, and no clear lifespan bioaccumulation pattern observed, except for mature females. Organic mercury in the muscle ranged from 0.05mgkg−1 (wwt) to 0.52mgkg−1 (wwt), corresponding to an average of 70% of total mercury content. In mature females, a significant correlation (R=0.99, P=0.01) was found between size and organic mercury fraction, suggesting reproduction as an important factor controlling organic mercury bioaccumulation in the spotted dogfish.