Total mercury in striped catfish and bocachico from river Meta, Colombia

Abstract

The consumption of fish contaminated with mercury represents a serious problem for human health, especially in populations in which it is part of their daily diet. This problem requires the moni-toring of mercury concentration in freshwater predatory and non-predatory fish, especially in poorly studied areas such as the Orino-quia region of Colombia. The aim of this study was to determine total mercury concentration in samples of catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum metaense) and bocachico (Prochilodus mariae) from the river Meta, Meta-Colombia. Fishes very much consumed by the adjacent populations. Eight samples of each fish species were analyzed in duplicate by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with a hydride generator. It was established that the applied method is traceable to the Dorm-4 certified reference material; the method was also validated. The average value of total mercury in striped catfish was 0.055 ± 0.0107 mg / kg, and for bocachico 0.026 ± 0.0054 mg / kg of fresh fish. These data obtained do not exceed the limit value established by the World Health Organization and Environmental Protection Agency. However, the risk index for non-carcinogenic effects in some samples of striped catfish have a value greater than one, therefore their consumption represents a health risk, especially during pregnancy and early childhood, as well as for fishermen and those communities in the area that depend on the consumption of this food.