Copper, zinc, mercury and arsenic content in Micropogonias furnieri and Mugil platanus of the Montevideo coastal zone, Río de la Plata

Abstract Metals (Cu, Zn, Hg) and metalloid (As) concentrations were measured in Micropogonias furnieri and Mugil platanus caught in three areas along the Montevideo coastal zone during winter 2010, spring 2010 and 2011. Compared to previous studies conducted in the zone, both species showed higher (for Cu), similar (for Zn) or lower (for Hg) concentrations. The highest Hg values were found in the M. furnieri of Montevideo bay. There was no spatial variation in Cu, Zn, and As concentrations in muscle, likely due to the high mobility of both species. However, the Cu content in the liver of M. furnieri was higher in fish from the West zone. Cu, Zn and As found in the liver of M. platanus were much higher than in that of M. furnieri. A functional relationship between muscle levels of Zn and Hg and fish length of M. furnieri indicates bioaccumulation of these metals. According to the results, M. furnieri may be used as a temporal bioindicator for Hg, but not as a spatial bioindicator. Mercury levels were below the maximum safety level based on international standard values for human consumption.

摘要：本研究于2010年冬季、2010年春季及2011年，在蒙得维的亚沿岸带的三个采样区域，对捕获的大鳍绒须石首鱼（Micropogonias furnieri）与扁头鲻（Mugil platanus）体内的金属（铜Cu、锌Zn、汞Hg）及类金属砷（As）含量进行了测定。与该区域既往研究结果相比，两种受试鱼类的重金属及类金属含量呈现如下特征：铜含量偏高、锌含量相当、汞含量偏低。蒙得维的亚湾内的大鳍绒须石首鱼体内汞含量最高。两种鱼类肌肉组织中的铜、锌与砷含量未出现空间差异，这可能与两种鱼类的高移动性有关。但大鳍绒须石首鱼肝脏组织中的铜含量在西部采样区域显著更高。扁头鲻肝脏组织中的铜、锌与砷含量远高于大鳍绒须石首鱼。大鳍绒须石首鱼的肌肉锌、汞含量与体长之间存在函数关系，表明这两种金属存在生物富集现象。基于本研究结果，大鳍绒须石首鱼可作为汞的时间性生物指示物，却不适用于空间性生物指示。依照国际人类食用食品的安全标准，本次检测到的汞含量均低于最大安全限值。