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Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium ( Podocnemis expansa ) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Fábio Júnior Targino

    (Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24230-321, Brazil)

  • Joanna Damazio de Nunes Ribeiro

    (Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24230-321, Brazil)

  • Julia Siqueira Simões

    (Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24230-321, Brazil)

  • Carla Silva Carneiro

    (Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-580, Brazil)

  • Stella Maris Lazzarini

    (Centro de Pesquisa e Preservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos (CPPMA), Eletronorte, Presidente Figueiredo 69736-000, Brazil)

  • Aline Ramos Souza

    (Centro de Pesquisa e Preservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos (CPPMA), Eletronorte, Presidente Figueiredo 69736-000, Brazil
    Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus 69077-000, Brazil)

  • Micheli da Silva Ferreira

    (Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24230-321, Brazil)

  • Sergio Borges Mano

    (Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24230-321, Brazil)

  • Eliane Teixeira Mársico

    (Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24230-321, Brazil)

Abstract

Researchers recognize the silent, negative and deleterious effects caused by mercury pollution in gold mining areas. Freshwater turtles are culturally part of the diet of riverside populations in the Amazon region and this area presents mercury (Hg) pollution issues mainly due to gold mining activities. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the total mercury (THg) content in the different organs of Amazonian giant river turtle ( Podocnemis expansa ) and carry out a human health risk assessment associated with the consumption of these animals. This study was conducted in the Vila Balbina, municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Skin ( n = 28), muscle ( n = 19) and brain ( n = 2) samples were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (TDA-AAS) and a DMA-80™ mercury analyzer was used for the total mercury determinations. The average values found for THg in the skin, muscle and brain samples were, respectively, 0.1045 mg·kg −1 , 0.1092 mg·kg −1 and 0.0601 mg·kg −1 . Thus, THg was observed even though the P. expansa were kept in captivity, possibly due to previous contamination by air, water and food. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated considering a 9.07 g·day −1 intake dose of P. expansa and the consumption of turtles once a week showed an HQ = 2.45, which may cause long-term injuries to human health. Although the muscle concentrations were below the maximum limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Brazilian regulatory agencies, it is important to evaluate consumption factors such as amount ingested, frequency and animal gender, which may cause a potential risk to regular consumers due to mercury bioaccumulation. The WHO may consider various aspects in order to warn the Amazon population about the severity and silent hazard of this metal, especially due to the importance of this matrix in the region. This region urgently needs government actions to inhibit clandestine mining and to prevent future serious, chronic health problems of the entire population.

Suggested Citation

  • Fábio Júnior Targino & Joanna Damazio de Nunes Ribeiro & Julia Siqueira Simões & Carla Silva Carneiro & Stella Maris Lazzarini & Aline Ramos Souza & Micheli da Silva Ferreira & Sergio Borges Mano & El, 2023. "Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium ( Podocnemis expansa ) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:15:p:6489-:d:1208068
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andréa Silva & Alpina Begossi, 2009. "Biodiversity, food consumption and ecological niche dimension: a study case of the riverine populations from the Rio Negro, Amazonia, Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 489-507, June.
    2. Lilian de C. Moraes Pinto & José G. Dórea & José Vicente Elias Bernardi & Leonardo Fernandes Gomes, 2019. "Mapping the Evolution of Mercury (Hg) Research in the Amazon (1991–2017): A Scientometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adriano Teixeira de Oliveira & Paloma de Almeida Rodrigues & Alexandre Mendes Ramos Filho & Maria Fernanda da Silva Gomes & Ariany Rabello da Silva Liebl & Júlia Vianna de Pinho & Paulo Henrique Rocha, 2023. "Levels of Total Mercury and Health Risk Assessment of Consuming Freshwater Stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygoninae) of the Brazilian Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(21), pages 1-12, October.

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