1. Mercury contamination in the recently described Brazilian white-tail dogfish Squalus albicaudus (Squalidae, Chondrichthyes)
- Author
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Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis, Fernando Neves Pinto, Olaf Malm, Camila F.A. Pereira, Marcelo Vianna, and João Paulo Machado Torres
- Subjects
Environmental Engineering ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Biomagnification ,0208 environmental biotechnology ,Zoology ,chemistry.chemical_element ,02 engineering and technology ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Mesopredator release hypothesis ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Squalidae ,Mercury contamination ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Ecology ,biology ,Muscles ,Fishes ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Biota ,Mercury ,General Medicine ,General Chemistry ,Contamination ,biology.organism_classification ,Pollution ,Chondrichthyes ,020801 environmental engineering ,Mercury (element) ,Seafood ,chemistry ,Dogfish ,Female ,Brazil ,Squalus ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
The recently described Squalus albicaudus is a mesopredator shark and, as such, exposed to mercury biomagnification processes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess total Hg (THg) concentrations in S. albicaudus, a deep-water species, sampled off Southeastern Brazil and discuss ecological, reproductive, human consumption and conservation implications. Thirty-two individuals were sampled off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, including 13 gravid females carrying 34 embryos. Muscle THg concentrations were higher in all sex classes compared to liver, gonads and brain. The last three, in turn, presented THg concentrations above toxic biota thresholds. Significant correlations were observed between muscle and brain and liver, indicating systemic Hg contamination and inter-organ transport and distribution. In addition, correlations observed between organs strongly support efficient Hg blood-brain barrier crossing and maternal transfer. Maternal THg transfer was observed, with embryo THg also above toxic thresholds for fish. THg levels in muscle and liver, as well as embryos, were higher compared to other Squalus species worldwide. Hg contamination off the coast of Rio de Janeiro is of significant concern and should be further assessed. Potential human consumption risks are noted, as muscle THg concentrations were above maximum permissible levels set by regulatory agencies.
- Published
- 2020
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