Bioaccumulation and human health risks of potentially toxic elements in fish species from the southeastern Carajás Mineral Province, Brazil

Mauricio Willians de Lima; Wendel Valter da Silveira Pereira; Edna Santos de Souza; Renato Alves Teixeira; Dulcidéia da Conceição Palheta; Kelson do Carmo Freitas Faial; Hain Figueiredo Costa; Antonio Rodrigues Fernandes

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.112024

Bioaccumulation and human health risks of potentially toxic elements in fish species from the southeastern Carajás Mineral Province, Brazil

Environ Res. 2022 Mar;204(Pt B):112024. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112024. Epub 2021 Sep 10.

Authors

Mauricio Willians de Lima¹, Wendel Valter da Silveira Pereira², Edna Santos de Souza³, Renato Alves Teixeira⁴, Dulcidéia da Conceição Palheta⁵, Kelson do Carmo Freitas Faial⁶, Hain Figueiredo Costa⁷, Antonio Rodrigues Fernandes⁸

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: mauricio.willians@ufra.edu.br.
² Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: wendel.valter@ufra.edu.br.
³ Xingu Institute of Studies, Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará, 68380-000, São Félix do Xingu, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: edna.souza@unifesspa.edu.br.
⁴ Institute of Studies on Regional Agrarian Development, Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará, 68507-590, Marabá, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: alves.agro@unifesspa.edu.br.
⁵ Institute of Health and Animal Production, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: deia.palheta@ufra.edu.br.
⁶ Evandro Chagas Institute, Ministry of Health, 67000-030, Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: kelsonfaial@iec.pa.gov.br.
⁷ Socioenvironmental and Water Resources Institute, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
⁸ Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: antonio.fernandes@ufra.edu.br.

PMID: 34516979
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112024

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities may have increased the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in fish from the southeastern Carajás Mineral Province in Brazil, which has not yet been studied. The objectives were to determine the quality parameters of surface water and bottom sediments, and to assess the bioaccumulation and risks of Al, Fe, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Zn in fish species from the southeastern Carajás Mineral Province. Water, sediments and fish species (Colossoma macropomum, Curimata cyprinoides, Geophagus sp., Leporinus trifasciatus, and Serrasalmus eigenmanni) were collected in 14 areas in the municipalities of Parauapebas, Marabá and Canaã dos Carajás, contemplating the Gelado Stream and the Parauapebas, Tapirapé and Itacaiúnas Rivers. Water samples were subjected to physicochemical analysis using a multiparameter meter. Concentrations of PTEs in all samples were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were calculated to study the sediment enrichment and contamination. Ecological and human health risk assessments were performed to determine the risks to the environment and population's health. EF and Igeo revealed that the sediments from the Parauapebas River and Gelado Stream are respectively enriched by Ba, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Ba, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb and V. The concentrations of Fe (1.67 mg L^-¹) and Mn (0.11 mg L^-1) in water and the concentrations of Cr (>0.1 mg kg^-1) and Pb (>2 mg kg^-1) in fish were above the Brazilian legislation thresholds. The ecological risk assessment revealed considerable risk from Ni and moderate risk from multiple PTEs in sediments from the Gelado Stream. Human health risks were detected for Pb in all fish species and for Mo in L.trifasciatus. These results indicate that techniques for monitoring and controlling contamination must be implemented by the environmental agencies.

Keywords: Eastern Amazon; Ecological risk; Environmental contamination; Human health risk; Serra dos Carajás.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Anthropogenic Effects
Bioaccumulation
Brazil
Environmental Monitoring
Geologic Sediments
Humans
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Minerals
Risk Assessment
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Minerals
Water Pollutants, Chemical