Linking fish consumption patterns and health risk assessment of mercury exposure in a coastal community of NW Mexico

ABSTRACT

We aimed at characterizing the methylmercury (MeHg) exposure through fish consumption in two populations (common general and fishing-related population (FRP)) using a probabilistic health risk assessment in children, women of childbearing age, and adults in Mazatlán. The hazard quotients (HQs) were obtained from fish consumption, defined through a survey, and the levels of mercury in fishery products, obtained from published information. The average fish ingestion rate (IR_food) was higher in the FRP (167.85 g d⁻¹) than in the general population (GP) (140.9 g d⁻¹). However, HQs were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the GP (ranging from 0.18 to 10.91) compared to the FRP (0.20 to 2.48); significant differences were also found among groups of both populations. Remarkably, children in both populations exhibited the highest proportions of risk, reaching up to 97% in GP. For all populations, fish consumption was the most important variable influencing MeHg exposure. Overall, for MeHg exposure, there is no safe level of fish consumption without risk, and actions should be taken to mitigate possible risk; further research with current data is needed to assess potential health risks associated with MeHg exposure, particularly in children.

KEYWORDS:

• fishery products
• mercury exposure
• Gulf of California

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to M. en C. Daniela Aguilera Márquez for her assistance in the surveys, G. Ramírez-Reséndiz for computing work, and Carlos Suárez-Gutiérrez for the elaboration of figures.

Funding

The authors thank the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) for the scholarship and mobility support granted to N.Y.Z.A.

This work was supported by the Ministry of Public Education of Mexico under Grant PRODEP Redes. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.