Locational Differences in Mercury and Selenium Levels in 19 Species of Saltwater Fish from New Jersey

Abstract

Individuals who fish, and their families that ingest self-caught fish, make decisions about where to fish, what type of fish to eat, and the quantity of fish to eat. While federal and state agencies often issue consumption advisories for some fish with high mercury (Hg) concentrations, advisories seldom provide the actual metal levels to the general public. There are few data for most saltwater fish, and even less information on variations in Hg levels in fish within a state or geographical region. The objective of this study was to provide Hg concentrations from 19 species of fish caught in different locations in New Jersey to (1) test the hypothesis that mean metal levels vary geographically, (2) provide this information to individuals who fish these coastal waters, and (3) provide a range of values for risk assessors who deal with saltwater fish exposure in the Northeastern United States. Selenium (Se) was also examined because of its purported moderating effect on the toxicity of Hg. Hg levels showed significant geographical variation for 10 of 14 species that were caught in more than one region of New Jersey, but there were significant locational differences for Se in only 5 of the fish. Mercury levels were significantly lower in fish collected from northern New Jersey (except for ling, Molva molva), compared to other regions. As might be expected, locational differences in Hg levels were greatest for fish species with the highest Hg concentrations (shark, Isurus oxyrinchus; tuna, Thunnus thynnus and T. albacares; striped bass, Morone saxatilis; bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix). Fishers and their families might reduce their risk from Hg exposure not only by selecting fish generally lower in Hg, but by fishing predominantly in some regions over others, further lowering the potential risk. Health professionals might use these data to advise patients on which fish are safest to consume (in terms of Hg exposure) from particular geographical regions.

Acknowledgments

We thank T. Fote for advice and support throughout the study, M. Donio for field and laboratory assistance, and the many anglers in New Jersey who allowed us to collect samples from their fish or who collected the samples for us. This research was partly supported by the Jersey Coast Angler's Association (JCAA), the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Association (JCSA), NIEHS Center Grant (P30ES005022), and the Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (Department of Energy, DE–FC01–06EW07053), Wildlife Trust, and EOHSI. This research was conducted under a Rutgers University protocol, and fish samples were obtained from recreational anglers and NJ DEP trawls. The views and conclusions expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors, and do not reflect the funding agencies.