Metal bioaccumulation and its genotoxic effects on eggs and hatchlings of giant Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis expansa)

Frossard, Alexandra; Coppo, Gabriel Carvalho; Lourenço, Amanda Toledo; Heringer, Otávio Arruda; Chippari-Gomes, Adriana Regina

doi:10.1007/s10646-021-02384-8

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Different THg concentrations may be observed between males and females due to changes in eating habits (Schneider et al, 2009) and the elimination of Hg via the eggs during the reproductive period (Jagoe et al, 2003, Frossard et al, 2021. However, in contrast, the present study diverged from this observation and the THG concentration for males did not signi cantly differ from that of the females.…”

Section: Thg Contentcontrasting

confidence: 77%

Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium (Podocnemis Expansa) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil

Júnior

Ribeiro

Simões

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Researchers are highly aware of the silent, negative effects caused by mercury pollution in gold mining areas. Freshwater turtles are culturally part of the diet of riverside populations in the Amazon region and this area presents mercury (Hg) pollution issues mainly due to gold mining activities. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the total mercury (THg) content in the different organs of river turtles (P. expansa) and carry out a human health risk assessment associated with the consumption of these animals. Skin (n=28), muscle (n=19) and brain (n=2) samples were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (TDA-AAS) and a DMA-80™ mercury analyzer used for the total mercury determinations. The average values found for THg in the skin, muscle and brain samples were, respectively, 0.1045 mg.kg-1, 0.1092 mg.kg-1 and 0.0601mg.kg-1. Thus, THg was observed even though the P. expansa were kept in captivity, possibly due to previous contamination by air, water and food. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated considering a 9.07g.day-1 intake dose of P. expansa and the consumption of turtles once a week showed a HQ=2.45, which may cause long-term injuries to human health. Although the muscle concentrations were below the maximum limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Brazilian regulatory agencies, it is important to evaluate consumption factors such as amount ingested, frequency and animal gender, which may cause a potential risk to regular consumers due to mercury bioaccumulation. The WHO may consider various aspects in order to warn the amazon population about the severity and silent hazard of this metal, especially due to the importance of this matrix in the region. This region urgently needs government actions to inhibit clandestine mining and to prevent future serious, chronic health problems of the entire population.

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Section: Thg Contentcontrasting

confidence: 77%

Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium (Podocnemis Expansa) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil

Júnior

Ribeiro

Simões

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…It assumes that in free-living animals at the mouth of the Uatumã river, the levels of Hg can be significantly different in males and females, due to eating habits, the period of prolonged fasting that females have before the laying phase and the transfer of inorganic chemical trace elements to eggs. Research has identified a maternal transfer of metals (essential or not) to the eggs in tests with Testudines nesting eggs, triggering genotoxic effects in the hatchlings [47].…”

Section: Thg Contentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The bioaccumulation of toxic metals by reptiles results from surface contact with the water and food chain [47,63,64], and the concentrations depend on the environmental levels of trace metals in the habitat, since they are absorbed and stored in the tissues [65]. Researchers have shown that the mercury concentrations in the muscles of freshwater animals varies widely depending on the capture location [59,66].…”

Section: Thg Bioaccumulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium (Podocnemis expansa) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil

Targino,

Ribeiro,

Simões

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Researchers recognize the silent, negative and deleterious effects caused by mercury pollution in gold mining areas. Freshwater turtles are culturally part of the diet of riverside populations in the Amazon region and this area presents mercury (Hg) pollution issues mainly due to gold mining activities. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the total mercury (THg) content in the different organs of Amazonian giant river turtle (Podocnemis expansa) and carry out a human health risk assessment associated with the consumption of these animals. This study was conducted in the Vila Balbina, municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Skin (n = 28), muscle (n = 19) and brain (n = 2) samples were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (TDA-AAS) and a DMA-80™ mercury analyzer was used for the total mercury determinations. The average values found for THg in the skin, muscle and brain samples were, respectively, 0.1045 mg·kg−1, 0.1092 mg·kg−1 and 0.0601 mg·kg−1. Thus, THg was observed even though the P. expansa were kept in captivity, possibly due to previous contamination by air, water and food. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated considering a 9.07 g·day−1 intake dose of P. expansa and the consumption of turtles once a week showed an HQ = 2.45, which may cause long-term injuries to human health. Although the muscle concentrations were below the maximum limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Brazilian regulatory agencies, it is important to evaluate consumption factors such as amount ingested, frequency and animal gender, which may cause a potential risk to regular consumers due to mercury bioaccumulation. The WHO may consider various aspects in order to warn the Amazon population about the severity and silent hazard of this metal, especially due to the importance of this matrix in the region. This region urgently needs government actions to inhibit clandestine mining and to prevent future serious, chronic health problems of the entire population.

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Micronucleus test in reptiles: Current and future perspectives

Odetti,

Paravani,

Simoniello

et al. 2024

Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutage

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Metal bioaccumulation and its genotoxic effects on eggs and hatchlings of giant Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis expansa)

Cited by 6 publications

References 53 publications

Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium (Podocnemis Expansa) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil

Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium (Podocnemis Expansa) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil

Total Mercury Content in the Tissues of Freshwater Chelonium (Podocnemis expansa) and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Amazon Population in Brazil

Micronucleus test in reptiles: Current and future perspectives

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