Mercury accumulation in fish species from the Persian Gulf and in human hair from fishermen

Abstract

Total and methylmercury concentrations were assessed in muscle and liver of 141 fish samples from the northern part of the Persian Gulf. All fish samples belonged to five different species: grunt, flathead, greasy grouper, tiger-tooth croaker, and silver pomfret. In addition, Hg and methylmercury were analyzed in scalp hair of 19 fishermen living in the same coastal stations of the Persian Gulf and consuming several fish meals a week. Total mercury concentrations in fish muscle and liver ranged from 0.01 to 1.35 microg g(-1) w.w. and from 0.02 to 1.30 microg g(-1) w.w., respectively. In fish muscle, 3% of the Hg concentrations were higher than 0.5 microg g(-1) w.w., which corresponds to the maximum acceptable WHO level, while 9% were in the range of polluted fish (between 0.3 and 0.5 microg g(-1) w.w.). The highest mercury concentrations in fish muscle were observed in flathead fish at Abadan (average of 0.68 microg g(-1) w.w.). Methylmercury fractions in fish muscle and liver amount to 34-99% (median 64%) and 24-70% (median 43%), respectively. The mean total Hg concentration in the fishermen's scalp hair amounted to 2.9 +/- 2.2 microg g(-1), with 68% in the form of methylmercury. Ninety-five percent of the Hg levels in the fishermen's hair were below 10 microg g(-1), which is the WHO warning limit. In addition, relationships between the mercury levels in hair, on the one hand, and exposure-related factors such as Hg levels in specific fish species, regional differences, and number of fish meals, on the other hand, are discussed. It appears that a significant correlation for example exists between Hg levels human hair and fish muscle or human hair and age and that mean mercury levels in fish muscle and human hair decreased from western (Abadan) to eastern (Abbas port) coastal sites.

The ethnobotanical importance and conservation value of native plants in eastern Arabian Peninsula

“…The impact of these activities on the marine environment was assessed briefly (e.g., Agah et al. , ; Naser , ). However, no studies have been conducted till now on the influence exerted by the oil‐industrial activities on the structure and composition of the terrestrial habitats in the eastern side of Saudi Arabia, particularly on the natural vegetation.…”

Foodborne Exposure to Pesticides and Methylmercury in the United Arab Emirates

“…Mercury content of seafood is estimated using the most recent local and regional data available in the current scientific literature. Mean and standard deviation values of total wet‐weight muscle mercury concentrations from six previous studies of fish harvested nearby (Gulf coasts of UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar) are represented in the model as a set of six continuous lognormal distributions (mean/ SD : 0.403/0.129, ( 33 ) 0.110/0.026, ( 34 ) 0.304/0.160, ( 35 ) 0.160/0.080, ( 36 ) 0.081/0.008, ( 37 ) and 0.247/0.136 ( 18 ) ), in units of mg/kg. To minimize study bias, the model randomly selects parameters from one of the six fish studies during each of its Monte Carlo iterations.…”

Distribution of Arsenic and Mercury in the Aquatic Ecosystem of the Five Chilean Reservoirs

“…Mercury and arsenic accumulate in organisms at the bottom of the aquatic food chain and are biomagnified up the food chain, reaching the highest concentrations in top predator fish. It is generally accepted that consumption of fish and seafood is one of the major sources of exposure to mercury and arsenic for humans 22,23 , hence it is important to investigate the levels of mercury and arsenic in fish to assess whether the concentration of mercury and arsenic is within the permissible limits and will not pose a hazard for human consumption.…”