Demographic and geographic patterns of cetacean-based food product consumption and potential mercury exposure within a Caribbean whaling community

Abstract

Exposure to mercury (Hg), especially methylmercury (MeHg), through the consumption of seafood is a major public health concern. St. Vincent & the Grenadines (Eastern Caribbean) supports two related whaling operations, which produce food from cetaceans for human consumption. Recent data suggest that Hg concentrations in cetacean tissue samples exceed recommended consumption limits. Our objective was to determine the role of cetacean-based food products in the diet of the Vincentian population as a proxy for exposure to MeHg using interview surveys (n = 921). Based upon provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) guidelines for MeHg from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), we determined safe weekly consumption amounts for specific cetacean-based food products, based upon reported consumption patterns. We found cetacean-based food products to be included in the diet of 77.4% of respondents. Respondents’ gender and geographical home region are the most important factors influencing cetacean consumption. Frequency and amount of consumption vary, but generally exceed calculated safe weekly limits. The consumption of cetacean-based food products may represent a public health risk, as a large portion of the population may be exposed to high MeHg concentrations.

Keywords:

• Cetaceans
• Caribbean
• diet
• human health
• ecotoxicology
• methylmercury

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the support of Don Bergfelt and Fortune Sithole from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. We appreciate the assistance of student field researchers from the University of the South who are not listed as coauthors: Elissa Clark, Helena Kilburn, Isabel Kirby, Komal Kunwar, Lauren Newman, and Connor Peach. This research would not have been possible without the partnership of the following local field collaborators: Alana Adams, Moriah Alves, Enrico Barker, Sheena Clouden, Samantha Ince, April Jacobs, Keaah Johnson, Otmar Marshall, Shakera Ollivierre, Aureil Phillips, Tiffany Phillips, Tishana Reid, Anthony Sargeant, Eugena Simmons, and Simone Williams. Data collection was conducted with the approval of—but independently from—the appropriate Ministries of the Government of St. Vincent & the Grenadines: The Ministry of Health, Wellness & the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour. This is contribution #235 of the Coastlines and Oceans Division in the Institute of Environment at Florida International University.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Data availability statement

The datasets produced and analyzed for this study are available from the corresponding author (Fielding) upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of the South, and the Institute of Environment at Florida International University.