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Title: Heavy metals in fish from the Aleutians: Interspecific and locational differences

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium in edible tissue of seven species of marine fish collected from several Aleutian islands (in 2004) to determine: (1) interspecific differences, (2) locational differences (among Aleutian Islands), (3) size-related differences in any metal levels within a species, and (4) potential risk to the fish or to predators on the fish, including humans. We also compared metals levels to those of three other fish species previously examined in detail, as well as examining metals in the edible tissue of octopus (Octopus dofleini). Octopus did not have the highest levels of any metal. There were significant interspecific differences in all metal levels among the fish species, although the differences were less than an order of magnitude, except for arsenic (mean of 19,500 ppb in Flathead sole, Hippoglossoides elassodon). Significant intraisland variation occurred among the four sites on Amchitka, but there was not a consistent pattern. There were significant interisland differences for some metals and species. Mercury levels increased significantly with size for several species; lead increased significantly for only one fish species; and cadmium and selenium decreased significantly with size for halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). The Alaskanmore » Department of Health and Social Services supports unrestricted consumption of most Alaskan fish species for all people, including pregnant women. Most mean metal concentrations were well below the levels known to adversely affect the fish themselves, or predators that consume them (including humans), except for mercury in three fish species (mean levels just below 0.3 ppm), and arsenic in two fish species. However, even at low mercury levels, people who consume fish almost daily will exceed guideline values from the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency. - Highlights: • Cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium levels differed among 10 fish species from the Aleutians. • Mean Arsenic was as high as 19,500 ppb (flathead sole, Hippoglossoides elassodon). • Mercury levels increased significantly with fish size for several species. • Metal levels were generally below adverse effects levels for fish and their predators. • Mercury and arsenic might pose a risk to human consumers, and require further examination.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]; ;  [1];  [1]
  1. Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ (United States)
  2. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22337284
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Research
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 131; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0013-9351
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ALEUTIAN ISLANDS; ANIMAL TISSUES; ARSENIC; CADMIUM; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; FISHES; HEALTH HAZARDS; HEAVY METALS; LEAD; MERCURY; SELENIUM; US EPA; WOMEN

Citation Formats

Burger, Joanna, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, Gochfeld, Michael, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, Jeitner, Christian, Pittfield, Taryn, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, and Donio, Mark. Heavy metals in fish from the Aleutians: Interspecific and locational differences. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.02.016.
Burger, Joanna, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, Gochfeld, Michael, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, Jeitner, Christian, Pittfield, Taryn, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, & Donio, Mark. Heavy metals in fish from the Aleutians: Interspecific and locational differences. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.02.016
Burger, Joanna, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, Gochfeld, Michael, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, Jeitner, Christian, Pittfield, Taryn, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, and Donio, Mark. 2014. "Heavy metals in fish from the Aleutians: Interspecific and locational differences". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.02.016.
@article{osti_22337284,
title = {Heavy metals in fish from the Aleutians: Interspecific and locational differences},
author = {Burger, Joanna and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ and Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235 and Gochfeld, Michael and Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235 and Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854 and Jeitner, Christian and Pittfield, Taryn and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ and Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235 and Donio, Mark},
abstractNote = {The objectives of this study were to examine levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium in edible tissue of seven species of marine fish collected from several Aleutian islands (in 2004) to determine: (1) interspecific differences, (2) locational differences (among Aleutian Islands), (3) size-related differences in any metal levels within a species, and (4) potential risk to the fish or to predators on the fish, including humans. We also compared metals levels to those of three other fish species previously examined in detail, as well as examining metals in the edible tissue of octopus (Octopus dofleini). Octopus did not have the highest levels of any metal. There were significant interspecific differences in all metal levels among the fish species, although the differences were less than an order of magnitude, except for arsenic (mean of 19,500 ppb in Flathead sole, Hippoglossoides elassodon). Significant intraisland variation occurred among the four sites on Amchitka, but there was not a consistent pattern. There were significant interisland differences for some metals and species. Mercury levels increased significantly with size for several species; lead increased significantly for only one fish species; and cadmium and selenium decreased significantly with size for halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). The Alaskan Department of Health and Social Services supports unrestricted consumption of most Alaskan fish species for all people, including pregnant women. Most mean metal concentrations were well below the levels known to adversely affect the fish themselves, or predators that consume them (including humans), except for mercury in three fish species (mean levels just below 0.3 ppm), and arsenic in two fish species. However, even at low mercury levels, people who consume fish almost daily will exceed guideline values from the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency. - Highlights: • Cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium levels differed among 10 fish species from the Aleutians. • Mean Arsenic was as high as 19,500 ppb (flathead sole, Hippoglossoides elassodon). • Mercury levels increased significantly with fish size for several species. • Metal levels were generally below adverse effects levels for fish and their predators. • Mercury and arsenic might pose a risk to human consumers, and require further examination.},
doi = {10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.02.016},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22337284}, journal = {Environmental Research},
issn = {0013-9351},
number = ,
volume = 131,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}