Potentially toxic elements in consumed indoor shrimp farming associated with diet, water and sediment levels: bioaccumulation in head and body tissues in relation to biometric parameters

Abstract

Abstract Shrimp production is an important industry for many countries and shrimp consumption is increasing worldwide. Shrimps are a highly nutritional food, but can pose a risk for human health if subject to high levels of environmental contaminants. This work studies the presence of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in shrimps from Ecuador and compares them to such contents noted in other shrimp-production areas in the world to evaluate the possible risks associated with these elements for consumer health, and to relate them to PTEs contents in water, sediments and diets, and also to animal biometric parameters. The PTEs levels (mg kg− 1 DM) obtained are: in the head: As (3.52–6.11), Cd (0.02–0.10), Co (0.14–0.49) Cr (0.23–4.89), Cu (99.9–233.0), Ni (0.52–1.86), Pb (0.24–1.09), Zn (51.8-100.5) and Hg (µg kg− 1 DM )(10.00-66.81); in the tail: (0.91–3.21), Cd (0.01–0.02), Co (0.01–0.43) Cr (0.01–6.52), Cu (20.0-72.44), Ni (0.15–2.03), Pb (0.01–0.69), Zn (31.2–66.1) and Hg (µg kg− 1 DM)(10.00-67.18). The concentration of all the PTEs is generally lower than the limits set for seafood by European regulations, except for As in the cephalothorax (4.63 mg kg− 1). Different behaviour for PTEs accumulation in shrimps was found, which preferentially tend to accumulate in the cephalothorax, except for Hg (40.13 µg kg− 1 DM), which accumulates in muscle (body) and is associated with contents of proteins, lipids and total shrimp weight. Nonetheless, the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for PTEs indicate that the consumption of shrimp muscles from Ecuador does not pose a human health risk because the values of these indices are below 1 in all cases.