Trace metal contamination and species-specific bioaccumulation in the Zhoushan Fishery, northwestern East China Sea

Metal contamination in fishery water may pose a serious threat to aquatic products and human health. In this study, the contents of seven trace metals were assessed in water, sediment, and ten commercially important species (seven fish and three crustaceans) with different trophic guilds, habitat preferences, and motility, collected from the Zhoushan Fishery, northwest East China Sea. In general, the results showed that the concentrations of trace metals in water and sediment were lower than the safety thresholds set by the National Seawater Quality Standard of China and the sediment quality guidelines, except for Cu, As, and Cr in sediment. The high metal concentrations were spatially distributed in the west of the Zhoushan Fishery, which is probably due to the chemical pollution generated from many large international ports and chemical industries in Hangzhou Bay. The metal concentrations in the species were lower than the legislation thresholds established by the Commission Regulation and China National Standard, except for Cd in two crustacean species. However, a health risk assessment indicated that the consumption of the analyzed seafood is safe. However, there is a potential risk to local consumers who prefer crustaceans. From a species-specific bioaccumulation point of view, species in high trophic guilds, benthivores, species with low motility, or those living near the sediment have been found to be most likely to accumulate metals. Our findings could contribute to the understanding of the accumulation tendencies of metals in species of different trophic guilds with varying habitat preferences and motility and provide valuable data to environmental and seafood safety managers.

Automated summary

The study found that metal concentrations in water and sediment in the Zhoushan Fishery were generally below safety thresholds, except for Cu, As, and Cr in sediment. High levels of metal contamination were found in the west of the fishery, likely due to pollution from large international ports and chemical industries in Hangzhou Bay. Despite some exceedances of metal thresholds in crustacean species, a health risk assessment indicated that seafood consumption from the area is safe, with a potential risk for local consumers who prefer crustaceans.