Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mercury, cadmium, and lead content in demersal sharks from the Macaronesian islands

  • Short Research and Discussion Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The overexploitation of shark and ray fishing as well as anthropogenic pollution in the sea has led to a large decline in their population, and because sharks occupy a high trophic position in the ecosystem, they could have high concentrations of heavy metals such as Hg, Pb, and Cd. This study is based on seven species of demersal sharks which were caught in the Macaronesian archipelagos (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and the Azores Archipelago). Hg and Pb concentrations were found in the present study to be below those reported in other comparative studies, with the highest reported values of Hg and Pb being 281,738 μg/kg for Pb in Deania profundorum (Smith & Radcliffe, 1912) and 264,30 μg/kg for Hg in Centrophorus uyato, Rafinesque, 1810. As for Cd, the values found here are higher than those in the literature, the highest reported concentration being 120.36 μg/kg in Centrophorus squamosus (Bonnaterre, 1788).

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adel M, Conti GO, Dadar M, Mahjoub M, Copat C, Ferrante M (2016) Heavy metal concentrations in edible muscle of whitecheek shark, Carcharhinus dussumieri (elasmobranchii, chondrichthyes) from the Persian Gulf: a food safety issue. Food Chem Toxicol 97:135–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adel M, Copat C, Asl MRS, Conti GO, Babazadeh M, Ferrante M (2018) Bioaccumulation of trace metals in banded Persian bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium arabicum) from the Persian Gulf: a food safety issue. Food Chem Toxicol 113:198–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson MJ (2001) Permutation tests for univariate or multivariate analysis of variance and regression. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 58(3):626–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andral B, Stanisiere JY, Sauzade D, Damier E, Thebault H, Galgani F, Boissery P (2004) Monitoring chemical contamination levels in the Mediterranean based on the use of mussel caging. Mar Pollut Bull 49(9–10):704–712

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrera-García A, O'Hara T, Galván-Magaña F, Méndez-Rodríguez LC, Castellini JM, Zenteno-Savín T (2012) Oxidative stress indicators and trace elements in the blue shark (Prionace glauca) off the east coast of the Mexican Pacific Ocean. Comp Biochem Physiol Part C: Toxicol Pharmacol 156(2):59–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum JK, Myers RA, Kehler DG, Worm B, Harley SJ, Doherty PA (2003) Collapse and conservation of shark populations in the Northwest Atlantic. Science 299(5605):389–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson LN, Krawchuk MA, Dulvy NK (2016) Why have global shark and ray landings declined: improved management or overfishing? Fish Fish 17(2):438–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endo T, Hisamichi Y, Haraguchi K, Kato Y, Ohta C, Koga N (2008) Hg, Zn and Cu levels in the muscle and liver of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) from the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan: relationship between metal concentrations and body length. Mar Pollut Bull 56(10):1774–1780

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Estrada JA, Rice AN, Lutcavage ME, Skomal GB (2003) Predicting trophic position in sharks of the north-west Atlantic Ocean using stable isotope analysis. J Mar Biol Assoc U K 83(6):1347–1350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer J, Erikstein K, D'Offay B, Guggisberg S, Barone M (2013) Review of the implementation of the international plan of action for the conservation and management of sharks. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez SA, Abarca NL, Meléndez RC (2013) Heavy metal concentrations of two highly migratory sharks (Prionace glauca and Isurus oxyrinchus) in the southeastern Pacific waters: comments on public health and conservation. Trop Conserv Sci 6(1):126–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lozano-Bilbao E, Gutiérrez AJ, Hardisson A, Rubio C, González-Weller D, Aguilar N, Escánez A, Espinosa JM, Canales P, Lozano G (2018) Influence of the submarine volcanic eruption off El Hierro (Canary Islands) on the mesopelagic cephalopod's metal content. Mar Pollut Bull 129:474–479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lozano-Bilbao E, Gutiérrez AJ, Hardisson A, Rubio C, Canales P, Lozano G (2017) Mercury content in intertidal algae from La Caleta de Interián, North coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Majorensis 13:97–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcovecchio JE, Moreno VJ, Pérez A (1991) Metal accumulation in tissues of sharks from the Bahia Blanca Estuary, Argentina. Mar Environ Res 31(4):263–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marongiu MF, Porcu C, Bellodi A, Cannas R, Cau A, Cuccu D, Mulas A, Follesa MC (2017) Temporal dynamics of demersal chondrichthyan species in the central western Mediterranean Sea: the case study in Sardinia Island. Fish Res 193:81–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClenachan L, Cooper AB, Carpenter KE, Dulvy NK (2012) Extinction risk and bottlenecks in the conservation of charismatic marine species. Conserv Lett 5(1):73–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendil D, Demirci Z, Tuzen M, Soylak M (2010) Seasonal investigation of trace element contents in commercially valuable fish species from the Black Sea, Turkey. Food Chem Toxicol 48(3):865–870

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Momigliano P, Harcourt R 2014. Shark conservation, governance and management. Earthscan Series, Routledge, Abingdon, pp 89

  • Pethybridge H, Cossa D, Butler EC (2010) Mercury in 16 demersal sharks from Southeast Australia: biotic and abiotic sources of variation and consumer health implications. Mar Environ Res 69(1):18–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polidoro BA, Brooks T, Carpenter KE, Edgar GJ, Henderson S, Sanciangco J, Robertson DR (2012) Patterns of extinction risk and threat for marine vertebrates and habitat-forming species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 448:93–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prudente M, Tanabe S, Watanbe M, Subramnian A, Miyazki N, Suarez P, Tatsukawa R (1997) Organochlorine contamination in some odontoceti species from the North Pacific and Indian Ocean. Mar Environ Res 44(4):415–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shiffman DS, Hammerschlag N (2016) Shark conservation and management policy: a review and primer for non-specialists. Anim Conserv 19(5):401–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpfendorfer CA, Heupel MR, White WT, Dulvy NK (2011) The importance of research and public opinion to conservation management of sharks and rays: a synthesis. Mar Freshw Res 62(6):518–527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spongberg AL (2004) PCB contamination in marine sediments from Golfo Dulce, Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Rev Biol Trop 52:23–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens JD, Bonfil R, Dulvy NK, Walker PA (2000) The effects of fishing on sharks, rays, and chimaeras (chondrichthyans), and the implications for marine ecosystems. ICES J Mar Sci 57(3):476–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storelli MM, Giacominelli-Stuffler R, Marcotrigiano GO (2002) Mercury accumulation and speciation in muscle tissue of different species of sharks from Mediterranean Sea, Italy. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 68(2):201–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turoczy NJ, Laurenson LJB, Allinson G, Nishikawa M, Lambert DF, Smith C, Stagnitti F (2000) Observations on metal concentrations in three species of shark (Deania calcea, Centroscymnus crepidater, and Centroscymnus owstoni) from southeastern Australian waters. J Agric Food Chem 48(9):4357–4364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vieira C, Morais S, Ramos S, Delerue-Matos C, Oliveira MBPP (2011) Mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic levels in three pelagic fish species from the Atlantic Ocean: intra- and inter-specific variability and human health risks for consumption. Food Chem Toxicol 49(4):923–932

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ward-Paige CA, Mora C, Lotze HK, Pattengill-Semmens C, McClenachan L, Arias-Castro E, Myers RA (2010) Large-scale absence of sharks on reefs in the greater-Caribbean: a footprint of human pressures. PLoS One 5(8):e11968

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Animal y Edafología y Geología (Unidad Departamental de Ciencias Marinas), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, 38206, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    Enrique Lozano-Bilbao & Gonzalo Lozano

  2. Grupo interuniversitario de Toxicología Alimentaria y Ambiental. Facultad de Medicina, Campus de Ofra, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, 38071, Tenerife, Spain

    Enrique Lozano-Bilbao, Gonzalo Lozano, Ángel J. Gutiérrez, Carmen Rubio & Arturo Hardisson

  3. Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, 38200, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    Ángel J. Gutiérrez, Carmen Rubio & Arturo Hardisson

Authors
  1. Enrique Lozano-Bilbao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gonzalo Lozano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ángel J. Gutiérrez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Carmen Rubio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Arturo Hardisson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Enrique Lozano-Bilbao.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 31 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lozano-Bilbao, E., Lozano, G., Gutiérrez, Á.J. et al. Mercury, cadmium, and lead content in demersal sharks from the Macaronesian islands. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 21251–21256 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2550-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2550-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation