de Pinho Júlia Vianna, Willmer Isabel Quental, Lopes Amanda Pontes, Fonsêca Regina, Saint'Pierre Tatiana Dillenburg, Charvet Patricia, Tomas Acácio Ribeiro Gomes, Hauser-Davis Rachel Ann
Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4.365 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil.
Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Vigilância Sanitária (PPGVS)Programa de Pós-graduação em Vigilância Sanitária (PPGVS), Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde (INCQS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4.365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2025 Mar 31. doi: 10.1007/s12011-025-04572-7.
Sharks are among the most threatened vertebrate groups, facing pressures from overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution, with the latter posing risks not only to marine ecosystems but also to human health due to the global consumption of shark meat. This study assessed the concentrations of essential, potentially toxic, and toxic metals in the muscle tissue of 61 shortfin makos (Isurus oxyrinchus), an endothermic pelagic species, caught by industrial fleets off the coast of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. Several elements, including Co, Ni, V, Rb, and Ti, are reported herein for the first time in this species, expanding the understanding of metal bioaccumulation in pelagic sharks. High levels of toxic elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb, along with potentially toxic elements like Ti, were detected, with concentrations of As and Hg exceeding food-safety thresholds, raising significant public health concerns. Shortfin makos may present partial physiological resilience to environmental stressors due to endothermy; although, the elevated concentrations of neurotoxic metals like Hg and significant levels of Cu and Ti detected herein highlight its vulnerability to contamination. Moderate positive correlations between metallothionein (MT) and Ti and Rb, and a moderate negative correlation with Co, suggest selective detoxification pathways; although, the limited correlation with other elements points to restricted MT-mediated protective mechanisms in muscle tissue. The relatively high MT levels observed may reflect an adaptive response to chronic exposure rather than effective detoxification. An elevated hazard index indicates that even when individual contaminants are within acceptable limits, their combined effects pose considerable health risks. Given species-specific variability in metal accumulation and the absence of toxicological thresholds for elasmobranchs, future research should aim to define these limits to guide both conservation strategies and public health policies. Ecotoxicological assessments can serve as indirect conservation tools by highlighting human health risks associated with the consumption of threatened species, potentially discouraging their exploitation.
鲨鱼是受威胁最严重的脊椎动物群体之一，面临着过度捕捞、栖息地丧失和污染等压力，后者不仅对海洋生态系统构成风险，还因全球对鲨鱼肉的消费而对人类健康构成风险。本研究评估了61条短鳍灰鲭鲨（尖吻鲭鲨）肌肉组织中必需金属、潜在有毒金属和有毒金属的浓度，短鳍灰鲭鲨是一种生活在巴西东南部圣保罗海岸外被工业船队捕获的吸热远洋物种。本文首次报道了该物种中的几种元素，包括钴、镍、钒、铷和钛，扩展了对远洋鲨鱼体内金属生物积累的认识。检测到了高浓度的有毒元素，如砷、镉、铬、汞和铅，以及潜在有毒元素如钛，其中砷和汞的浓度超过了食品安全阈值，引发了重大的公共卫生问题。短鳍灰鲭鲨可能由于具有吸热特性而对环境压力源具有一定的生理恢复力；然而，本文检测到的高浓度神经毒性金属如汞以及较高水平的铜和钛突出了其易受污染的脆弱性。金属硫蛋白（MT）与钛和铷之间存在中度正相关，与钴存在中度负相关，表明存在选择性解毒途径；然而，与其他元素的有限相关性表明肌肉组织中MT介导的保护机制有限。观察到的相对较高的MT水平可能反映了对慢性暴露的适应性反应，而非有效的解毒作用。较高的危害指数表明，即使单个污染物在可接受范围内，它们的综合影响也会带来相当大的健康风险。鉴于不同物种在金属积累方面存在差异，且软骨鱼类没有毒理学阈值，未来的研究应旨在确定这些限值，以指导保护策略和公共卫生政策。生态毒理学评估可作为间接的保护工具，通过突出与食用受威胁物种相关的人类健康风险，可能会抑制对它们的开发利用。
