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Selenium Content in Freshwater and Marine Fish from Southern Brazil Coastal Plain: a Comparative Analysis on Environmental and Dietary Aspects

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Abstract

The coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul is considered to be a Se-deficient region in terms of its population dietary habit, making it the focus of this study. Selenium dietary deficiency is a concern when we consider its potential critical health effects on the local population. Therefore, this study contributes new information on the levels of Se in several species of marine and freshwater fish in the region of the Patos-Mirim Lagoon system, coupled with a comparative analysis of the metalloid contents between both fish groups. The Se contents in the fish species ranged from 88 ± 13 to 688 ± 19 μg.kg−1. The average Se concentration in the muscle tissue of the freshwater species (251 ± 96 μg kg−1) was significantly lower than that of the marine species (412 ± 143 μg kg−1). Likewise, no evidence of Se biomagnification was found among the fish from both the marine and freshwater environments, suggesting the absence of trophic transfer of Se. We note that to ensure that the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance, 55 μg day−1) of Se dietary intake for adults is met, at least 134 g of freshwater or 82 g of marine fish fillet could be incorporated into the diet of the population of Rio Grande do Sul. According to target hazard quotients (THQ) and the permissible safety limits, consumption of the fish species analyzed is safe for human health.

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Funding

This work was supported by the State of Rio Grande do Sul Research Support Foundation (FAPERGS), grant 19/2551–0001757-0.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Rio Grande, Oceanography Institute, Av. Itália km 08 Campus Carreiros, RS, 96201-900, Rio Grande, Brazil

    Alexandre Henrique Ferraz, Larissa Pinheiro Costa, Nicolai Mirlean & Elisa Rosa Seus-Arrache

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Segun Adebayo

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  1. Alexandre Henrique Ferraz
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  2. Larissa Pinheiro Costa
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Alexandre Henrique Ferraz, Larissa Pinheiro Costa, and Elisa Rosa Seus-Arrache. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Alexandre Henrique Ferraz and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Ferraz, A.H., Costa, L.P., Mirlean, N. et al. Selenium Content in Freshwater and Marine Fish from Southern Brazil Coastal Plain: a Comparative Analysis on Environmental and Dietary Aspects. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 946–958 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03192-9

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