Selenium/mercury molar ratios in freshwater, marine, and commercial fish from the USA: variation, risk, and health management

Burger, Joanna; Gochfeld, Michael

doi:10.1515/reveh-2013-0010

Cited by 31 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 108 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The present results indicate that some parasites may also be implicated in the amount of selenium and mercury available in different tissues of their hosts and therefore contribute to oscillations of the Se:Hg molar ratios. It is possible that the evaluation of several molar ratios should be more appropriate to test different effects, tissues and species (Burger and Gochfeld 2013). Further studies on selenium levels and mercury toxicity are necessary (Peterson et al 2009a) to clarify the role of Se:Hg molar ratios in different internal tissues particularly in fish of economic importance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total mercury and selenium concentrations in Sarpa salpa and Balistes capriscus and in their respective Digenean endoparasites Robphildollfusium fractum and Neoapocreadium chabaudi from Tunisia

Torres¹,

Kacem²,

Eira³

et al. 2014

Acta Parasitologica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present study reports the levels of mercury and selenium in Sarpa salpa and Balistes capriscus collected along the coast of Mahdia and Sfax (Tunisia). The systems constituted by S. salpa and Robphildollfusium fractum and by B. capriscus and Neoapocreadium chabaudi were tested as potential bioindicators to monitor environmental Hg pollution in marine ecosystems. Mercury and selenium concentrations were assessed in kidney, liver and muscle of 51 S. salpa and of 45 B. capriscus as well as in their respective endoparasites R. fractum and N. chabaudi. The Se:Hg molar ratios were evaluated for both species across the study areas. Surprisingly, the Se:Hg molar ratio in B. capriscus muscle from Mahdia is significantly lower than in Sfax. Our results indicate that some parasites may also be implicated in the amount of Se and Hg available in tissues and therefore contribute to oscillations of the Se:Hg molar ratios. In the model involving the carnivorous species (B. capriscus), the 5.1-times higher levels of mercury in N. chabaudi than in B. capriscus muscle in Sfax enable this fluke to be a sensitive biomonitoring tool for Hg pollution. The present results confirm that the habitual consumption of S. salpa should not suppose any potential health risk for Tunisian people. On the other hand, the consumption of B. capriscus may be of concern and further monitoring is advisable, since the Hg average concentration in Mahdia was above the maximum allowed Hg concentration in the edible portion of fish fixed by the European Union.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total mercury and selenium concentrations in Sarpa salpa and Balistes capriscus and in their respective Digenean endoparasites Robphildollfusium fractum and Neoapocreadium chabaudi from Tunisia

Torres¹,

Kacem²,

Eira³

et al. 2014

Acta Parasitologica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recently Burger and Gochfeld (2013) suggested that owing to the great variation among and within species, that it is not predictable being Hg content influenced by season, location and animal size, the Se/Hg molar ratio are currently not useful for risk assessment and risk management. Ultra-structural investigations carried out on the liver samples and the Se:Hg ratio close to 1, determined by trace element analysis, confirmed that in sperm whales, as in other odontocetes, hepatic organic mercury precipitates into tiemannite (HgSe) crystals as an end product of MeHg detoxification (Nigro and Leonzio, 1996;Ikemoto et al, 2004).…”

Section: Selenium:mercury Molar Ratiosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although this remains a controversial issue, Ralston and others (Kaneko and Ralston, 2007;Peterson et al, 2009;Ralston et al, 2008;Ralston and Raymond, 2010) have raised strong arguments for the molar ratio being an important factor for risk assessment. Conversely, Burger and Gochfeld (2013) highlighted that the Se:Hg molar ratio are not sufficiently constant to be considered in risk assessment, risk management, or risk communication.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of mercury and methylmercury concentrations, and selenium:mercury molar ratios for a toxicological assessment of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the most recent stranding event along the Adriatic coast (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea)

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Thomson (2004) reviewed the interaction between Se and heavy metals and found a strong interaction between Se and Hg in marine foods. Burger and Gochfeld (2013) concluded that the mean and median of Se/Hg molar ratios were higher for marine fish than for all freshwater fish examined. Therefore, a significant positive correlation between hair Hg levels and toenail Se levels may relate to consumption of marine fish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Past studies showed that levels of Hg in hair and Se in toenails were correlated with blood Hg and Se levels, respectively (Thomson, 2004;World Health Organization, 2008). Furthermore, levels of both Hg and Se in human blood were related to fish consumption (Burger and Gochfeld, 2013). Thomson (2004) reviewed the interaction between Se and heavy metals and found a strong interaction between Se and Hg in marine foods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hair mercury levels in relation to fish consumption among Vietnamese in Hanoi

Hoang

Do²,

Agusa

et al. 2017

J. Toxicol. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-People are exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) mainly through fish consumption, which is increasing in Vietnam. However, little information is available on estimating the health risk of MeHg exposure through fish consumption in Vietnam. The present study examined the association between mercury (Hg) levels in hair and selenium (Se) levels in toenails of 196 Vietnamese people and their fish consumption, using a dietary questionnaire to obtain information pertinent for assessing health risk owing to MeHg exposure. The geometric mean of Hg levels in the hair of males and females was 617 ng/g and 575 ng/g, respectively. We found that Hg levels in the hair of 98% of the Vietnamese study subjects were lower than the provisional tolerable weekly intake for MeHg (1.6 μg Hg/kg body weight; which is equivalent to a hair Hg concentration of approximately 2,300 ng/g, with an uncertainty factor of 6.4). There were significant differences in the age-adjusted geometric mean of Hg levels found in hair from females related to their frequency of freshwater fish consumption. The levels of Hg in hair and Se in toenails increased with an increased frequency of marine fish consumption, and both showed a significant positive correlation in subjects who consumed marine fish ≥ once/week. This is the first cross-sectional study to investigate the association between hair Hg levels and fish consumption in Vietnam. These findings provide valuable information for future assessments of the health risk of MeHg exposure through fish consumption in Vietnam.

show abstract

Selenium/mercury molar ratios in freshwater, marine, and commercial fish from the USA: variation, risk, and health management

Cited by 31 publications

References 108 publications

Total mercury and selenium concentrations in Sarpa salpa and Balistes capriscus and in their respective Digenean endoparasites Robphildollfusium fractum and Neoapocreadium chabaudi from Tunisia

Total mercury and selenium concentrations in Sarpa salpa and Balistes capriscus and in their respective Digenean endoparasites Robphildollfusium fractum and Neoapocreadium chabaudi from Tunisia

Analysis of mercury and methylmercury concentrations, and selenium:mercury molar ratios for a toxicological assessment of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the most recent stranding event along the Adriatic coast (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea)

Hair mercury levels in relation to fish consumption among Vietnamese in Hanoi

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About