Health Risk Assessment Related to As, Cd and Pb Due to the Consumption of Shrimp Species from Southeast Brazil

The concentrations of hazardous elements (As, Cd and Pb) in four shrimp species caught in fisheries from Southeast Brazil are presented to fill the knowledge gap in the evaluation of the quality of fishery products marketed in the country. Element intake was estimated to compare with the tolerable intake limits, establishing how much shrimp intake would be necessary to cause hazardous effects in adults. The median element concentrations in shrimp muscle ranged from 0.605 to 12.194 mg kg(-1) ww for As, 0.002 to 0.047 mg kg(-1) ww for Cd, and 0.021 to 0.179 mg kg(-1) ww for Pb. Shrimp biology and fishing spots played an important role in the accumulation of all elements. The concentrations of Cd and Pb were below the tolerable maximum limit, whereas for As, the concentration was above the tolerable maximum limit. However, this level is not a risk to human health since most As content in shrimp is the less toxic organic form and not the inorganic As form (iAs). The intake estimates for iAs, Cd and Pb were below the tolerable intake limits, and only Pb values were closest to the limit. In a future scenario of increased shrimp intake, some concern could arise from Pb intake.

Automated summary

This study fills the knowledge gap regarding the concentrations of hazardous elements in shrimp species caught in Southeast Brazil. The concentration of arsenic exceeds the tolerable limit, but as most of it is in the less toxic organic form, it does not pose a risk to human health. The estimated intake of inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and lead are all below the tolerable limits, with lead coming closest to the limit.