ICDSUPL4-H012

Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT

Abstract number: H012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.H012

Published online: 9 April 2025

ICDSUPL, 4, H012 (2025)

Assessment of mercury levels in marine fish muscle, water and sediment. Implications for human health and environmental monitoring

Altin Metalla¹*, Erinda Lika¹, Agnieszka Chałabis-Mazurek², Rafał Olchowski², Paweł Orłowski², Jose Luis Valverde Piedra²

¹ Department of Preclinical Modules, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

² Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Protection, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

^{* Corresponding author: ametalla@ubt.edu.al}

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) contamination poses significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to its bioaccumulative and toxic nature. The study aimed to investigate mercury content in fish as well as in marine and riverine environments. Muscles isolated from three fish species (Solea solea, Dicentrarchus labrax, and Mugil cephalus) of both, large (L) and small (S) size, and samples of water and sediments were analysed for mercury content using Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS MA-2000). Mercury level in water samples revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between sea water (0.42 µg/L) and river water (2.83 µg/L). Sediment analysis showed higher mercury levels (8.03 µg/kg dry w.) compared to marine sediments (5.40 µg/kg dry w.), although the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In fish muscles, mercury concentrations varied among species and b. size groups. D. labrax (L gr.) exhibited the highest mean mercury content (15.4 µg/kg w.w.), followed by S. solea (L gr.: 12 µg/kg) and M. cephalus (L gr.: 4.9 µg/kg). Smaller fish generally had lower mercury levels, suggesting a size-dependent accumulation pattern. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicated significant differences in mercury concentrations among the fish groups (p < 0.05), with D. labrax showing the most pronounced variation between large and small individuals (p < 0.01). The findings highlight the influence of environmental mercury levels on its bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, especially in larger fish, suggesting potential risks for aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Keywords: mercury, bioaccumulation, fish, environmental contamination

How to cite

A. Metalla, E. Lika, A. Chałabis-Mazurek, R. Olchowski, P. Orłowski, J.L. Valverde Piedra, 2025. Assessment of mercury levels in marine fish muscle, water and sediment. Implications for human health and environmental monitoring. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.H012