Mercury and selenium in oysters Saccostrea palmula and Crassostrea corteziensis from coastal lagoons of the southeastern Gulf of California: molar ratio and risk assessment on human health

Abstract

Total mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) contents were determined in oysters Saccostrea palmula and Crassostrea corteziensis soft tissues from four coastal lagoons of the southeastern Gulf of California. The annual Hg mean concentrations for S. palmula (0.09 ± 0.04 µg g^{- 1}, wet weight) and C. corteziensis (0.08 ± 0.04 µg g^{- 1}) were similar (p ˃ 0.05) among the lagoons and did not exceed the limit established by the Norma Oficial Mexicana and World Health Organization (< 1.0 µg g^{- 1} Hg). On the other hand, the annual mean concentrations of Se for S. palmula (3.34 ± 0.96 µg g^{- 1}) and C. corteziensis (2.79 ± 0.89 µg g^{- 1}) were higher (p < 0.05) in El Colorado lagoon. The Se/Hg molar ratios were above 1; the positive selenium health benefit value index suggested that Se load in oysters could reduce the Hg potential toxic effect. The hazard quotient for Hg in both species was below 1. Therefore, the consumption of oysters does not represent a risk due to Hg ingestion.

Keywords: Bivalves; Gulf of California; Human health; Molar ratio; Potentially toxic elements; Spectrophotometry.