Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Heavy Metal Levels in Fish from Coastal Waters of Uruguay

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Copper, mercury, and zinc levels were determined in muscle and liver (N = 163) of seven fish species caught in coastal waters off Montevideo and Piriápolis (control site): Odontesthes spp., Mugil platanus, Micropogonias furnieri, Urophycis brasiliensis, Cynoscion guatucupa, Menticirrhus americanus, and Mustelus schmitti. The local population commonly uses these species for consumption. Heavy metal concentrations determined in this study were generally below those obtained for fish caught in Argentinean and Brazilian coastal waters, with some exceptions in the case of mercury and zinc. Based on copper, mercury, and zinc levels in muscle tissue, we conclude that the fish studied here are acceptable for human consumption. Nevertheless, it is recommended not to consume the fish liver (up to 466 μg Zn g−1 dry weight in liver) nor large specimens of the investigated species. Regional programs involving the neighboring countries should be established to assess the fisheries resources and potential risks for human health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • R Amodio-Cocchieri U Prete ParticleDel A Arnese M Giuliano A Roncioni (1993) ArticleTitleHeavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) in marine organisms from the Ionian Sea (Italy) Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 50 618–625 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhtlWmtLs%3D Occurrence Handle8467151

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous (1998) Perfil Nacional de la Gestión de las Sustancias Químicas. Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social, Ministerio de Vivienda Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente, Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca, Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería, Ministerio de Salud Pública, Dirección Nacional de Bomberos, Dirección Nacional de Aduanas. Uruguay

  • PRN Baisch LFN Niencheski LD Lacerda (1988) Trace metal distribution in sediments of the Patos Lagoon Estuary, Brazil U Seeliger LD Lacerda SR Patchineelam (Eds) Metals in coastal environments of Latin America Springer-Verlag Berlin 59–64

    Google Scholar 

  • A Barral R Roth J Marcovecchio (1996) Metals accumulation in tissues of sharks from the southeast Atlantic Ocean J Marcovecchio (Eds) Pollution processes in coastal environments UNMDP (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata) Mar del Plata, Argentina 405–412

    Google Scholar 

  • GW Bryan (1971) ArticleTitleThe effects of heavy metals (other than mercury) on marine and estuarine organisms Proc Roy Soc London 177 389–410 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE3MXht1Wrtbo%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PGC Campbell PM Stokes (1985) ArticleTitleAcidification and toxicity of metals to aquatic biota Can J Fish Aquat Sci 42 2034–2049 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xotlelsw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PGC Campbell A Tessier (1996) Ecotoxicology of metals in aquatic environments: geochemical aspects MC Newman CH Jagoe (Eds) Ecotoxicology: a hierarchical treatment Lewis Publishers Boca Raton, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • JC Colombo C Bilos M Remes D Colautti P Landoni C Brochu (2000) ArticleTitleDetritivorous fish contamination in the Río de la Plata estuary: a critical accumulation pathway in the cycle of anthropogenic compounds Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57 1139–1150 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXksVCmtbk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danulat E, Muniz P, Yannicelli B, García J, Medina G (1998) Mejoramiento ambiental del Puerto de Montevideo. Final Report presented to the National Port Administration (ANP). Sección Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay

  • E Danulat P Muniz J García-Alonso B Yannicelli (2002) ArticleTitleFirst assessment of the highly contaminated harbour of Montevideo, Uruguay Mar Poll Bull 44 551–576 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00086-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Hamza-Chaffai M Roméo A El Abed (1996) ArticleTitleHeavy metals in different fishes from the middle eastern coast of Tunisia Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 56 766–773 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XhvVOnsbo%3D Occurrence Handle8661860

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DH Johnson (1995) ArticleTitleStatistical sirens: the allure of nonparametrics Ecology 76 1998–2000

    Google Scholar 

  • H Karadede SA Oymak E Ünlü (2004) ArticleTitleHeavy metals in mullet, Liza abu, and catfish, Silurus triostegus, from the Atatürk Dam Lake (Euphrates), Turkey Environ Int 30 183–188 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXmvFGltA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle14749107

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • F Kargin (1996) ArticleTitleSeasonal changes in levels of heavy metals in tissues of Mullus barbatus and Sparus aurata collected from Iskenderun Gulf (Turkey) Water Air Soil Pollut 90 557–562 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XltVSgtL4%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S Keckes JK Miettinen (1972) Mercury as a marine pollutant M Ruivo (Eds) Marine pollution and sea life FAO, Fishing News (Books) Ltda. London 276–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Kesten EM, Verrengia NR (1992) Niveles de contaminantes metálicos en la zona del balneario de Quilmes, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. In: UNESCO (eds) Jornadas de investigación científica en materia de contaminación de las aguas. Montevideo, pp77–82

  • LD Lacerda WC Pfeiffer M Fiszman (1987) ArticleTitleHeavy metal distribution, availability and fate in Sepetiba Bay, S.E Brazil. Sci Total Environ 65 163–173 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0048-9697(87)90169-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LD Lacerda MA Fernández CF Calazans KF Tanizaki (1992) ArticleTitleBioavailability of heavy metals in sediments of two coastal lagoons in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Hydrobiologia 228 65– 70 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38XhsFygu7s%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LD Lacerda R Huertas HF Moresco G Carrasco F Viana R Lucas M Pessi (1998) ArticleTitleTrace metal concentrations and geochemical partitioning in Arroyo Carrasco wetlands, Montevideo, Uruguay Geochim Brasil 12 63–74 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXkslersLY%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LD Lacerda HHM Paraquetti RV Marins CE Rezende IR Zalmon MP Gomes V Farias (2000) ArticleTitleMercury content in shark species from the south-eastern Brazilian coast Rev Brasil Biol 60 571–576 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38%2FivVCisw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RG Lima Júnior FG Araujo MF Maia AS Pinto (2002) ArticleTitleEvaluation of heavy metal in fish of the Sepetiba and Ilha Grande Bays, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Environ Res 89 171–179 Occurrence Handle12123650

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JE Marcovecchio VJ Moreno (1992) ArticleTitleEvaluación del contenido de metales pesados en peces de la Bahía de Samborombón Frente Marítimo 12 139–146

    Google Scholar 

  • JE Marcovecchio VJ Moreno A Pérez (1986) ArticleTitleBiomagnification of total mercury in Bahía Blanca Estuary shark Mar Poll Bull 17 276–278 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28XkvVCktLs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JE Marcovecchio VJ Moreno A Pérez (1988a) ArticleTitleDetermination of heavy metal concentrations in biota of Bahía Blanca, Argentina Sci Total Environ 75 181–190 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXlvFKktLw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JE Marcovecchio VJ Moreno A Pérez (1988b) Total mercury levels in marine organisms of the Bahía Blanca estuarine trophic web U Seeliger LD Lacerda SR Patchineelam (Eds) Metals in coastal environments of Latin America Springer-Verlag Berlin 122–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcovecchio JE, Moreno VJ, Pérez A (1989) Cadmium, zinc and total mercury distribution in organisms from Samborombón Bay (La Plata river estuary), in Argentina. Proc Int Conf Heavy Metals in the Environment, Geneva, 1:366–369

  • JE Marcovecchio VJ Moreno A Pérez (1991) ArticleTitleMetal accumulation in tissues of sharks from the Bahía Blanca Estuary, Argentina Mar Environ Res 31 263–274 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38XhvVSlsbs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mattos S, Torrejón E (1976) Contenido de mercurio en las especies marinas más importantes del Uruguay. Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay. Monografías tecnológicas, serie pesca (II), 8 pp

  • H Moresco I Dol (1996) ArticleTitleMetales en sedimentos de la Bahía de Montevideo Rev Asoc Ciencias Naturales Litoral 27 1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • A Mountouris E Voutsas D Tassios (2002) ArticleTitleBioconcentration of heavy metals in aquatic environments: the importance of bioavailability Mar Poll Bull 44 1136–1141 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XosVSmu7s%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Moyano H Moresco J Blanco M Rosadilla A Caballero (1993) ArticleTitleBaseline studies of coastal pollution by heavy metals, oil and PAHs in Montevideo Mar Poll Bull 26 461–464 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXosF2gtw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muniz P, Gómez M, Lacerot G, Martínez A, Rodríguez M, Venturini N (2000) Contaminación en la zona costera del Departamento de Montevideo a través del estudio de las poblaciones planctónicas y bentónicas: su relación con los parámetros físico-químicos y sedimentológicos de la región. Final report. Sección Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay

  • P Muniz N Venturini A Martínez (2002) ArticleTitlePhysico-chemical characteristics and pollutants of the benthic environment in Montevideo coastal zone, Uruguay Mar Poll Bull 44 962–968 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmvVWntr8%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P Muniz E Danulat B Yannicelli J García-Alonso G Medina MC Bícego (2003) ArticleTitleAssessment of contamination by heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments of Montevideo Harbour (Uruguay) Environ Int 1096 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • P Muniz N Venturini M Gómez-Erache (2004) ArticleTitleSpatial distribution of chromium and lead in the benthic environment of coastal areas of the Río de la Plata estuary (Montevideo, Uruguay) Braz J Biol 64 103–116 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2c3psV2nsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15195369

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • FH Nichols JE Cloren SN Luoma DH Peterson (1986) ArticleTitleThe modification of an estuary Science 231 567–573

    Google Scholar 

  • A Pastor F Hernández M Peris J Beltrán J Sancho M Castillo (1994) ArticleTitleLevels of heavy metals in some marine organisms from the western Mediterranean area (Spain) Mar Poll Bull 28 50–53 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXhvF2qs78%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Pérez VJ Moreno JE Moreno Particlede AM Malaspina (1986) ArticleTitleDistribución del mercurio total en pescados y mariscos del Mar Argentino Rev Investig Desarrollo Pesquero 6 103–115

    Google Scholar 

  • N Pourang (1995) ArticleTitleHeavy metal bioaccumulation in different tissues of two fish species with regards to their feeding habits and trophic levels Environ Mon Assess 35 207–219 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXmslCnt7Y%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AE Pucci (1988) Heavy metals in water and sediments of the Blanca Bay, Argentina U Seeliger LD Lacerda SR Patchineelam (Eds) Metals in coastal environments of Latin America Springer-Verlag Berlin 9–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Scampini EM, Andrade S, Marcovecchio J (1993) Total mercury distribution in two shark species from Buenos Aires province coastal waters, in Argentina. Proceedings of International Conference Heavy Metals in the Environment, Toronto, 1:82–85

  • Scarlato NA, Marcovecchio JE, Pucci AE (1997) Distribución de metales pesados en zooplancton de aguas costeras de la Provincia de Buenos Aires y Uruguay. Resumen en XII Simposio Científico-Tecnológico de la Comisión Técnica Mixta del Frente Marítimo, p 23

  • GW Snedecor WG Cochran (1989) Statistical methods Iowa State University Press Iowa

    Google Scholar 

  • N Villa (1988) Spatial distribution of heavy metals in seawater and sediments from coastal areas of the southwestern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina U Seeliger LD Lacerda SR Patchineelam (Eds) Metals in coastal environments of Latin America Springer-Verlag Berlin 30–40

    Google Scholar 

  • WX Wang (2002) ArticleTitleInteractions of trace metals and different marine food chains Mar Ecol Prog Ser 243 295–309 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhtlShtb0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JH Zar (1996) Biostatistical analysis EditionNumber3rd Prentice-Hall New Jersey pp 918

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the fishers for their generous donations of samples, especially Alfredo Hargain from Piriápolis. Heavy metal analyses were done in the laboratory facilities of the Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente (DINAMA). Gustavo Saona provided valuable assistance in statistical analysis. This study was partly funded by a grant of the Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDECIBA, Facultad de Ciencias). Results constitute part of the first authors’ M.Sc. dissertation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sección Oceanología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo, 11400, Uruguay

    F Viana & E Danulat

  2. Departamento de Normalización Técnica, Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente, Rincón 575 EP, Montevideo, 11000, Uruguay

    R Huertas

  3. Department of Marine Research & Conservation, Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

    E Danulat

Authors
  1. F Viana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R Huertas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E Danulat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F Viana.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Viana, F., Huertas, R. & Danulat, E. Heavy Metal Levels in Fish from Coastal Waters of Uruguay. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 48, 530–537 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-004-0100-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-004-0100-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation