Journal
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Volume 115, Issue 1-2, Pages 266-272Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.12.006
Keywords
Total mercury; Trophic position; Epinephelidae; Human health risk
Funding
- Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT/CNPq) through Brazilian Long Term Ecological Research Programme (BR-LTER) at Site 8
- Patos Lagoon estuary and Fundacao O Boticario de Protecao a Natureza [0962_20122]
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)
- CNPq [310141/2015-0]
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Our study incorporated a comprehensive suite of parameters (i.e., body size, age, diet and trophic position) to investigate mercury concentration in dusky groupers Epinephelus marginatus. This study was carried out in rocky bottoms in littoral and neritic habitats along the Southern Brazilian coast. We also determined spatial variation in mercury concentrations in individuals inhabiting both zones, which may provide insights into how dietary differences or potential pollution sources affect bioaccumulation. A total of 244 dusky groupers was analyzed to determine total mercury concentrations. Our study revealed that when considering similar body sizes, individuals inhabiting littoral rocky habitats had higher concentrations of mercury probably due to proximity to pollution sources associated with human activities in the estuary and its drainage basin. Furthermore, large individuals (>650 mm and >8 years old) showed mercury contamination levels that are potentially harmful for this endangered fish species and above the acceptable limits for human consumption. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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