Distribution of trace elements in the tissues of smooth hound Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus, 1758) from the southern–eastern waters of Mediterranean Sea (Italy)

Abstract

Trace element concentrations (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn) were determined in the muscle, gonads, skin, and brain of smooth hound Mustelus mustelus in order to define the metal distribution patterns. The data indicated that metal accumulation depended on the tissues probably as a consequence of metabolic needs, physiochemical properties, and detoxification processes specific for each element. Metal concentrations were higher in gonads (Hg 0.10-0.70 μg g(-1); Cd 0.02-0.10 μg g(-1); Pb 0.08-0.39 μg g(-1); Cr 0.06-0.36 μg g(-1); Ni 1.37-3.00 μg g(-1); Zn 9.15-16.30 μg g(-1); Cu 1.95-21.62 μg g(-1)) and skin (Hg 0.16-0.66 μg g(-1); Cd 0.01-0.04 μg g(-1); Pb 0.10-0.62 μg g(-1); Cr 0.15-0.68 μg g(-1); Ni 1.60-7.20 μg g(-1); Zn 9.00-16.00 μg g(-1); Cu 0.78-6.80 μg g(-1)) than brain (Hg 0.04-0.34 μg g(-1); Cd 0.01-0.05 μg g(-1); Pb 0.03-0.59 μg g(-1); Cr 0.08-0.48 μg g(-1); Ni 5.59-9.69 μg g(-1); Zn 5.90-7.35 μg g(-1); Cu 0.90-4.02 μg g(-1)), while muscle always exhibited the lowest levels (Hg 1.03-2.58 μg g(-1); Cd 0.01-0.06 μg g(-1); Pb 0.02-0.16 μg g(-1); Cr 0.05-0.28 μg g(-1); Ni 1.13-2.48 μg g(-1); Zn 2.64-5.06 μg g(-1); Cu 0.33-2.23 μg g(-1)). Ni and Hg took exception having the highest concentrations in brain and muscle, respectively. An assessment of the risk for human due to the consumption of these marine organisms was also undertaken. Regarding Cd and Pb intakes, consumption did not guide to any concerns, while it should be extremely moderate when considering Hg intake. The comparative analyses revealed that Mediterranean sharks were exposed to higher Hg levels than biota inhabiting open ocean.

Mercury and Selenium in Muscle and Target Organs of Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks Sphyrna lewini of the SE Gulf of California: Dietary Intake, Molar Ratios, Loads, and Human Health Risks

“…This finding is well illustrated by the strong associations between body length and muscle Hg concentrations that have been observed for several shark species (Turoczy et al 2000;Gelsleichter and Walker 2010;Storelli et al 2011;Hurtado-Banda et al 2012;Maz-Courrau et al 2012;Delshad et al 2012). In the current study, although all scalloped hammerhead sharks were juvenile with relatively low variation in body size, significant correlations were found between total length and weight and Hg concentration in muscle and liver, but it was found that Hg in muscle increased and Hg in liver decreased as total length and weight incremented.…”

“…One of the reasons why sharks tend to accumulate high concentrations of toxic metals, such as Hg, in their flesh is because they are long-lived species (Storelli et al 2011). This finding is well illustrated by the strong associations between body length and muscle Hg concentrations that have been observed for several shark species (Turoczy et al 2000;Gelsleichter and Walker 2010;Storelli et al 2011;Hurtado-Banda et al 2012;Maz-Courrau et al 2012;Delshad et al 2012).…”

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“…Available literature have generally reported low concentrations of Cu in various species of sharks and rays. For instance, the mean concentrations of Cu inMustelusmustelusfrom the Mediterranean Sea (Storelli et al, 2011), Chiloscylliumplagiosum from Southern waters of Hong Kong (Cornish et al, 2007) and Scyliorhinuscaniculus from the Northeast Atlantic (Celik&Oehlenschlager, 2004) werereported as being 0.71 mg/kg, 0.15 mg/kg and 0.51 mg/kg, respectively.But Cu has not been detected in tiger sharks (Galeocerdocuvier), from the coast of Ishigaki Island, (Endo, Hisamichi, Haraguchi, Kato &Ohta, 2008). Then Guerin et al(2011) reported that Cu concentrations in catsharks and rays as being 0.421 and 0.174mg/kg, respectively.…”

“…In this study, the Zn content of all the samples analyzed were found to be below this value. Likewise, Zn concentrations in various species of sharks (Celik & Oehlenschlager, 2004;Cornish et al, 2007;Endo et al, 2008;Storelli et al, 2011) and rays (Jones, Mercurio& Olivier,2000;Guerin et al, 2011) from :Differentletters in thesamerowshowstatisticaldifferences (P < 0.05). Olmedo et al (2013).…”

Effects of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) Seed Extract on Heavy Metals Concentrations in Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

“…Fish are an important source of metals in human nutrition, and those from metal-contaminated sites present a potential risk to human health [27]. According to the mechanisms of absorption, regulation, storage, and excretion of metals, the various fi sh tissues present varying bioaccumulation rates [28].…”