Mercury, Selenium Concentrations and Se:Hg Molar Ratios in Demersal Fishes: Lethrinus lentjan, Lutjanus russelli and Lutjanus vitta from the Gulf of Thailand
Abstract
Consuming marine fish could increase a person’s exposure to mercury (Hg), a highly toxic trace element. Marine fish is also a main source of selenium (Se), an essential trace element, which counteract Hg toxicity. This study examines concentrations of Hg, Se and Se:Hg molar ratios in muscle tissue of 3 demersal fish species; pink ear emperor (Lethrinus lentjan) (n = 22), Russell’s snapper (Lutjanus russelli) (n = 19) and brown stripe snapper (Lutjanus vitta) (n = 19) from Samet island, Rayong province, Mak island, Trat province, Khanom district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province and Nongmom market, Chonburi province. Mean Hg concentration in 3 fish species were 0.231 ± 0.147, 0.380 ± 0.295 and 0.237 ± 0.219 mg/kg (ww), respectively. The mean Hg concentration of Russell’s snapper was significantly higher than that of brown stripe snapper and pink ear emperor (p<0.05). Mercury concentration was found to increase with fish size. Mean Se concentration were 0.759 ± 0.102, 0.800 ± 0.085 and 0.796 ± 0.058 mg/kg (ww), respectively. No significant difference in Se concentration among species and locations were found. Se concentration shows no correlation with neither Hg concentration nor fish length. Se:Hg molar ratios in all fish samples ranged from 2.10 to 60.08. Se:Hg molar ratio is negatively correlated with Hg concentration and fish length. Hg content in these fish is within the Thai maximum permissible Hg content in food (Ministry of Public Health, 2020) and none of these fish has Se:Hg molar ratios below 1. Therefore, these 3 demersal fish species from the Gulf of Thailand are safe for human consumption.References
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