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A Quantitative Assessment and Biomagnification of Mercury and Its Associated Health Risks from Fish Consumption in Freshwater Lakes of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

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Abstract

Issues regarding biomagnification of mercury (Hg) due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity in freshwater lakes have gained much attention in the last two decades especially in remote regions of the world where anthropogenic inputs are considered as negligible. In this study, spatial distribution of total mercury (THg), interspecific accumulation patterns, trophic transfer, and associated health risks in fish of freshwater lakes (357–3107 masl) in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, were investigated. THg concentrations in the regions were 0.20 ± 0.08 μg g−1 in glacial, 0.54 ± 0.21 μg g−1 in rural, and 1.35 ± 0.46 μg g−1 in urban region. Omnivorous, herbivorous, and carnivorous fish showed THg concentrations of 0.94, 0.85, and 0.49 μg g−1. Regional, lake, trophic level, and specie-specific differences of THg accumulation were found significant in the study. Among growth parameters, length and age varied significantly among species, trophic levels, and lakes, whereas weight showed significant variation among lakes as well. Condition factor (K) showed significant differences within species, lakes, and trophic levels. Biomagnification was observed in all lakes with the trophic magnification slopes (TMS) ranging from 0.03 to 0.20 with an average of 0.094 ± 0.07. Isotopic values of nitrogen (δ15N) and condition factor were found to dominate THg accumulation trends; however, no significant health risks were found in the study.

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Abbreviations

ASTDR:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Hg:

Mercury

LRAT:

Long-range atmospheric transport

SPL:

Substance Priority List

THg:

Total mercury

TMF:

Trophic magnification factor

TMS:

Trophic magnification slope

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Mr. Tariq Javed, principal scientist, Isotope Analysis Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), for aiding in the stable isotopic analysis of nitrogen. In addition, we deeply thank the Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, for the analysis of THg at their facility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, PO 45320, Pakistan

    Nikhat Hina, Rahat Riaz, Usman Ali & Riffat Naseem Malik

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpidi, 46000, Pakistan

    Uzaira Rafique

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  1. Nikhat Hina
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  2. Rahat Riaz
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Highlights

• A comparative study on distribution and biomagnification of THg in freshwater lakes

• Site and species-specific differences in THg accumulation were observed.

• Feeding modes and growth parameters explained variability in concentrations.

• Trophic transfer of THg was observed with regression slopes > 0.

• No significant health risk was found.

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Hina, N., Riaz, R., Ali, U. et al. A Quantitative Assessment and Biomagnification of Mercury and Its Associated Health Risks from Fish Consumption in Freshwater Lakes of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 3510–3526 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02479-z

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