Health Risk Assessment Related to As, Cd and Pb Due to the Consumption of Shrimp Species from Southeast Brazil

• Published in: International Journal of Environmental Research Vol. 16; no. 2
• Main Authors: Di Beneditto, Ana Paula Madeira, Pestana, Inácio Abreu, de Oliveira, Braulio Cherene Vaz, de Rezende, Carlos Eduardo, de Carvalho, Cássia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-04-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accumulation; Biology; Cadmium; Consumption; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Estimates; Fisheries; Fishery products; Fishing; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Health risks; Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning; Lead; Muscles; Natural Hazards; Research Paper; Risk assessment; Shellfish; Brazil; Crustaceans; Food safety; Trace elements; Tolerable intake
• ISSN: 1735-6865; 2008-2304
• DOI: 10.1007/s41742-022-00400-1

The concentrations of hazardous elements (As, Cd and Pb) in four shrimp species caught in fisheries from Southeast Brazil are presented to fill the knowledge gap in the evaluation of the quality of fishery products marketed in the country. Element intake was estimated to compare with the tolerable intake limits, establishing how much shrimp intake would be necessary to cause hazardous effects in adults. The median element concentrations in shrimp muscle ranged from 0.605 to 12.194 mg kg
−1
 ww for As, 0.002 to 0.047 mg kg
−1
 ww for Cd, and 0.021 to 0.179 mg kg
−1
 ww for Pb. Shrimp biology and fishing spots played an important role in the accumulation of all elements. The concentrations of Cd and Pb were below the tolerable maximum limit, whereas for As, the concentration was above the tolerable maximum limit. However, this level is not a risk to human health since most As content in shrimp is the less toxic organic form and not the inorganic As form (iAs). The intake estimates for iAs, Cd and Pb were below the tolerable intake limits, and only Pb values were closest to the limit. In a future scenario of increased shrimp intake, some concern could arise from Pb intake.
Article Highlights
Four commercial types of shrimp from Brazil were analyzed for As, Cd and Pb.
Shrimp biology and fishing spots played important roles in the accumulation of all elements.
Intake estimates for iAs, Cd and Pb were below the tolerable intake limits.
Future prediction indicates some concern for Pb if consumption increases.
Graphical abstract