Evaluation of mercury, lead, and cadmium in the waste material of crevalle jack fish from the Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean, as a possible raw material in the production of sub-products

Abstract

The Gulf of Urabá, currently considered a national strategic ecoregion, could be threatened by the presence of heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), which directly affect the aquatic ecosystem. In Colombia, investigations on marine species pollution are scarce; however, their products are consumed. The aim of this study was to quantify the contents of Hg, Pb, and Cd in muscle and in waste material (head-gills, viscera, fins-tail), in one of one of the most commercialized resources, the crevalle jack (Caranx hippos), and to determine their presence in some of the body portions that are used in the production of sub-products. The concentrations of Hg, Pb, and Cd were compared between the waste material and muscle of the crevalle jack fish that were caught from each of the following sites the community usually uses to catch them: Bahía Candelaria, Bahía Marirrío, Bocas del Roto, and Bocas del Atrato. They were captured every 1 year in each climatic period. All body portions exceeded the maximum allowed limits for Pb (0.667-23.378 mg kg); the highest Hg concentrations were found in muscle (0.515-7.019 mg kg) and viscera (0.172-1.883 mg kg), and for Cd, the parts with the highest levels were the fins-tail (0.040-0.15 mg kg) and viscera (0.040-0.174 mg kg). Considering the obtained results, it is not recommended to use the waste material for the production of fish meal or fish silage due to the adverse effects it could cause on both animals and humans.

Monitoring pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water and fish from the Gulf of Urabá, Colombia

“…However, our results are related to the high levels of pollution in Turbo bay. Physicochemical studies (suspended solids, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorine, phosphates, nitrates, coliforms, fats, among others), ecological studies, and studies of pesticides and metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, among others) in seawater and fish samples from the Gulf of Urab a have shown elevated contents of toxic compounds that have impaired the aquatic ecosystem (Gallego Ríos et al, 2018;INVEMAR, 2017;Salas Tovar and Murillo Hinestroza, 2013). It is important to highlight that environmental management measures are currently being carried out in order to reduce the pollutant load and guarantee the conservation of its environmental resources.…”

“…Over the years, several research has been carried out in order to assess pollution levels, effects and impacts in aquatic ecosystems in Gulf of Urab a and nearby areas. Physicochemical parameters, pesticides and metals have been studied through the years in Gulf of Urab a, which have shown elevated contents of toxic compounds that deteriorate the aquatic ecosystem (Gallego Ríos et al, 2018;INVE-MAR, 2017;Salas Tovar and Murillo Hinestroza, 2013).…”

“…Our laboratory has collaborated with some research where have been evaluated environmental problematic that affect aquatic ecosystem in Gulf of Urab a due to metal contamination in fish caught in the gulf (Gallego Ríos et al, 2018Zuluaga Rodríguez et al, 2017). For example, the Atrato river is the main water current that reaches the Gulf of Urab a, and is highly polluted.…”

Reported Lead Levels in Different Environmental Matrices in Colombia

“…Similarly, in the upper basin of the Chicamocha River, lead levels were found in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), with maximum values of 0.47 µg/g, 0.51 µg/g, and 0.45µg/g in liver, gill, and muscle tissue respectively [58]. Additionally, in the Gulf of Urabá, amounts of Pb were reported in crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) above the allowed limit in a range of 0.667-23.378 mg/kg, with mean values of 1.30 mg/kg in muscle tissue, 0.95 mg/kg in residues, 7.8 mg/kg in viscera, 13.3 mg/kg in head and gills, and 19.4 mg/kg in fins and tail [59]. On the other hand, levels below the reference value were found in fish marketed in the city of Bogotá, with average maximum concentrations of 0.0595 mg/kg for salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.…”

Effects of Cadmium Exposure on Gut Villi in Danio rerio

“…Cadmium has been shown to damage the intestinal mucosal barrier making the body more susceptible to infection and inflammation [37][38][39][40]. This aspect is of particular concern in fish aquaculture, where the animals are fed with flour often derived from fish of little commercial value from particularly polluted areas [41]. This can greatly increase the occurrence of infections in farmed fish, resulting in increased use of drugs and antibiotics which, in turn, further reduce the quality of farmed fish.…”