Heavy metals in aquatic organisms of different trophic levels and their potential human health risk in Bohai Bay, China

Abstract

Fourteen aquatic organism samples were collected from Bohai Bay, and concentrations of five heavy metals were measured to evaluate the pollution levels in aquatic organisms and the potential risk to human health. The concentrations of Zn and Cu were much higher than those of Cd, Cr, and Pb in all the organisms. In general, the heavy metal concentration levels were in the order phytoplankton < zooplankton < fish < shrimp < shellfish. Heavy metal concentrations in higher trophic-level aquatic organisms in Bohai Bay were compared to those in the organisms from other worldwide coastal waters. The concentration levels of most heavy metals were higher than the 75th percentile, except that Pb concentration was between the 25th and 50th percentiles. The calculated bioconcentration factors (BCF) of Cr, Cu, and Pb for phytoplankton were less than 100, indicating no accumulation in primary producers. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of Pb for zooplankton was the highest, indicating significant Pb accumulation in zooplankton. For higher trophic-level aquatic organisms, the order of BAF values was fish < shrimp < shellfish for most metals except for Pb. The human health risk assessment suggests that strict abatement measures of heavy metals must be taken to decrease the health risk caused by consuming aquatic products.

Trace metal bioaccumulation in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Liaodong Bay (Bohai Sea, China)

“…In recent decades, serious environmental pollution has resulted from the rapid economic and industrial development of China’s coastal areas. A large amount of trace metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) are released into the marine environment, all of which bioaccumulate in seafood and pose a serious human health risk (Li et al 2018 ; Zhang et al 2016 ; Gao et al 2019 ). Liaodong Bay is a semi-enclosed water body located in the northern region of the Bohai Sea, which is impacted by trace metal pollution derived from several industrial and agricultural activities along its coast.…”

“…Liaodong Bay is a semi-enclosed water body located in the northern region of the Bohai Sea, which is impacted by trace metal pollution derived from several industrial and agricultural activities along its coast. Therefore, monitoring trace metal pollution in Liaodong Bay is crucial (Zhang et al 2016 ; Eroglu et al 2015 ).…”

Assessment of heavy metals concentration in holothurians, sediments and water samples from coastal areas of Pakistan (Northern Arabian Sea)

“…It is the reason for rise in the level of marine toxic pollutants including transition metals in the coastal areas. The transition metals are required sometimes in small amounts for metabolic activities, but they have toxic effects in higher concentration [26]. The bioaccumulation of intractable toxic pollutants is reported to be capable of decreasing immune system, interfering and damaging respiratory, reproductive and nervous system of various organisms which are transferred to the top predators [27].…”

Assessment of ecological safety of fish from anthropogenically polluted freshwater reservoir

“…The rivers are most highly affected by heavy metals contamination, they can circulate in their food chains for a long time [8]. Research [9] found that aquatic organisms are distributed in the following order for bioaccumulation capacity: phytoplankton < zooplankton < fish < shrimp < shellfish. At the same time, the bioconcentration coefficients for most heavy metals in phytoplankton are lowest, and on the contrary, highest in shellfish.…”