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Estimation of metal concentrations in marine biota and associated health risk assessment for inhabitants of a coastal region in Northwestern Mexico

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Abstract

Marine ecosystems are subject to contamination by metals and metalloids and other elements and compounds that are emitted due to various human activities. These substances subsequently induce changes in marine biota after entering the marine environment. Marine organisms are frequently consumed worldwide because they constitute relatively cheap and accessible food items of high nutrient quality. The aim of this study was to estimate metal accumulation in frequently consumed marine species and to evaluate the associated health risks for particular population groups in a coastal region of northwestern Mexico. The marine species were consumed in different quantities between spring (from 0.29 kg year−1 for white clam, to 38.40 kg year−1 for blue crab) and autumn (from 0.34 kg year−1 for white clam, to 15.02 kg year−1 for leopard grouper). The general distribution of metal concentrations in the marine species (n = 13 in each season) evaluated in this study followed the trend of Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cr with the highest metal concentrations detected during autumn. Although many metal concentrations were above the international standards of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) values for the women in this study indicated that their health was not at risk due to the consumption of either fish or seafood. In contrast, the HQ and HI values determined for groups of men and children indicated that they are at risk due to the frequent consumption of most species evaluated in this study.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank to the Department of Chemical-Biological Sciences of the Division of Biological Sciences and Health and the Department of Scientific and Technological Research of the University of Sonora (DICTUS) and the Research Center for Food and Development (CIAD) for technical assistance. We would also like to thank to all study participants for their contributions to this study.

Funding

This work was funded by the Division of Biological Sciences and Health and the Department of Chemical-Biological Sciences of the University of Sonora, Mexico [USO313002489].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Posgrado en Ciencias, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas Y de La Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Hermosillo. Boulevard Luis Encinas Y Rosales S/N, Colonia Centro, Hermosillo, 83000, Sonora, México

    Karla Denisse Murillo-Castillo

  2. Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas Y de La Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Hermosillo. Boulevard Luis Encinas Y Rosales S/N, Colonia Centro, Hermosillo, 83000, Sonora, México

    Trinidad Quizán-Plata & María Alba Guadalupe Corella-Madueño

  3. Programa de Iniciación a La Investigación, Posgrado en Ciencias, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación Y Desarrollo, A.C. Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán, Rosas 46, Colonia La Victoria, Hermosillo, 83304, Sonora, México

    Jaqueline Celerina Peralta-Altamirano

  4. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación Y Desarrollo, A.C. Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán, Rosas 46, Colonia La Victoria, Hermosillo, 83304, Sonora, México

    Martín Enrique Jara-Marini

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  1. Karla Denisse Murillo-Castillo
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Murillo-Castillo, K.D., Quizán-Plata, T., Peralta-Altamirano, J.C. et al. Estimation of metal concentrations in marine biota and associated health risk assessment for inhabitants of a coastal region in Northwestern Mexico. Environ Monit Assess 194, 466 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10083-y

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