Mercury and selenium in the grass goby Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Pisces: Gobiidae) from a mercury contaminated Mediterranean lagoon

Acquavita, Alessandro; Bettoso, Nicola

Mercury and selenium in the grass goby Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Pisces: Gobiidae) from a mercury contaminated Mediterranean lagoon

2018

Acquavita, Alessandro | Bettoso, Nicola

Mercury (Hg) and its bioaccumulation are important in evaluating the health risk through fish consumption. In the Marano and Grado Lagoon a historical contamination originating from both mining and industrial sources is present.In this study the Hg levels in the grass goby and the protective effect of selenium (Se) were determined as a function of size, sex, sampling sites and season.Mercury often exceeded the limit for commercialisation, whereas Se was mostly constant being homeostatically regulated.The mean Se/Hg molar ratio showed about 40% of data >1.0 and the HBVSe index was on average equal to 0.0. Thus, grass goby of this area is not a Se source food indicated for pregnant and/or breastfeeding women, but its occasional consumption would appear to have no contraindications if integrated with other Se rich foods: the ingestion of about 10 fish fillets per week can be safely consumed by adults.

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