Occurrence, bioaccumulation, and ecological and health risks of Cd, Sn, Hg, and Pb compounds in shrimp and fish from aquaculture ponds

Abstract

Aquaculture organisms may accumulate metals to induce health risks. Compared with the focus on total contents, chemical-specific risk assessment makes reasonable but is rare. Herein, we elucidated occurrence of twelve metal compounds in shrimp and fish (edible muscle, one of major metal-containing and generally targeted organs), water, sediment, and feedstuff from two aquaculture ponds in Zhejiang Province (one of the major aquatic production and consumption areas). We detected Cd(II) (0.6−71.4 μg kg^–1 in 100% prawn but 63% fish), methylmercury (MeHg, 0.5−7.1 μg kg^–1 in 100% fish but 61% shrimp), Pb(II) (0.4−1.0 μg kg^–1 in 57% fish and 39% prawn), and trimethyltin and triethyltin (0.4−0.7 μg kg^–1), which were much lower than the maximum limits in China. Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) up to 0.38 mg kg^–1 were main contaminants in sediment while Cd(II) and Pb(II) up to 0.44 mg kg^–1 were major contaminants in feedstuff compared with Cd(II), Sn(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II) majored in water at ng L^–1 levels. Ecological risks were low in water but high for tributyltin in sediment. Additionally, light bioaccumulation of Cd(II) from sediment for prawn and methylmercury from feedstuff/sediment for crucian and bighead carp was induced. We also found light health risk of triethyl- and trimethyl lead, and Cd(II) (to children) associated with fish/shrimp consumption (edible muscle). This study proved high necessity of chemical-specific assessment, and shall trigger increasing interest to more metallic compounds in a wide range of uncultured and cultured plants and animals.