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Nonessential Metals in Striped Marlin and Indo-Pacific Sailfish in the Southeast Gulf of California, Mexico: Concentration and Assessment of Human Health Risk

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Abstract

Seventeen sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus; 166–246 cm long) and 13 striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax; 159–254 cm long) specimens from the southern Gulf of California were analyzed for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb concentrations. More than 20% of the As and Cd levels exceeded the guideline levels of the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the European Union. About 65–90% of the specimens exceeded the limit value for Hg. Pb levels in billfish were significantly lower than guideline values. The intakes of As and Cd through billfish consumption by the population represented 20–40% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values as recommended by the WHO. Levels of Hg exceeded the PTWI value. Pb intake represented <5% of the PTWI through these species in all age and gender groups. The target hazard quotients (THQs) for Cd and Pb were <1 in each group of interest. In contrast, THQ values based on As and Hg showed large variations, with the highest values for children, then pregnant women, and, finally, adults. Values of THQ >1 indicate risk for As and Hg; the risk from As was estimated assuming that 20% of the total As was inorganic. These metals can affect the nervous system and intellectual and physical development of unborn children and infants. A national moratorium on billfish consumption in México is recommended for children (0–6 years old), pregnant women, and women planning pregnancy.

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Acknowledgments

We thank A. N. Rojas-Guardado and C. Kohen for their help with preparation of samples for metal analysis, V. Montes and M. C. Ramírez-Jauregui for their help with the references, and K. Layne and J. Partridge for their help with the English revision. Financial support was provided by the projects PAPIIT-UNAM IN217408-3 and IN215206. Special thanks to the ‘La Estrella’ sport fleet in Mazatlán for their help during the sample collection.

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  1. Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 811, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, 82000, México

    M. F. Soto-Jiménez & F. Amezcua

  2. Instituto Tecnológico de Mazatlán, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, 82000, México

    R. González-Ledesma

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  1. M. F. Soto-Jiménez
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  2. F. Amezcua
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  3. R. González-Ledesma
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Correspondence to M. F. Soto-Jiménez.

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Soto-Jiménez, M.F., Amezcua, F. & González-Ledesma, R. Nonessential Metals in Striped Marlin and Indo-Pacific Sailfish in the Southeast Gulf of California, Mexico: Concentration and Assessment of Human Health Risk. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 58, 810–818 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-009-9452-2

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