Dietary exposure assessment of selected trace elements in eleven commercial fish species from the Missouri market.

Fish is an important source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids for nutrition adequacy. However, fish is a major link to dietary metal exposure in humans. This study describes the content of eight trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) in eleven commercial fish species from the Missouri market and evaluated the health risks of fish muscle consumption in the adult population. Total mercury (THg) in muscle was quantified by AAS and ICP-OES was used for other elements. The recovery rates of elements from DOLT-5 reference material ranged from 83% to 106%. Of all the 239 fish samples analyzed, trace element concentrations (mg/kg wet weight) in muscle were in the following ranges: As < LOD-17.5; Cd: 0.016-0.27; Cr: 0.023-0.63; Cu: 0.034-1.06; Ni:

Concentration dataset of 8 selected trace elements in cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and dietary exposure risks in the Missouri adult population.

Aquaculture contributes to the global animal protein supply and the prevention of malnutrition and diet-related diseases (FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations); Fiorella et al., 2021). In particular, fish is a significant source of animal protein, fatty acids (e.g., docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid), vitamins, and essential trace elements in the human diet. Nonetheless, fish bioaccumulates metals from their diet and habitat. This data article includes information on the concentrations of 4 essential and 4 non-essential trace elements in cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the human health risks through fish consumption in the adult population. Concentrations of four essential (Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) and four non-essential (As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) elements were quantified in ninety-one O. mykiss samples from an in-door production system. Total mercury (THg) levels in samples were determined by AAS, and other analyzed trace elements were measured by ICP-OES after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The highest concentrations of metals/metalloid (mg/kg wet weight) in fish muscle were Cr (0.44), Cu (4.21), Ni (1.01), As (0.47), Cd (0.045), Pb (0.65), THg (0.029), and Zn (6.21). The average concentrations of Cr and Pb exceeded their respective maximum limit. In most cases, median metal concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) differed across the fish size groups (small: 264-295 mm; medium: 300-395 mm; and large: 400-552 mm). The median concentrations of Cd, Zn, and THg in the large size group differed significantly (p < 0.05) between genders. The estimated weekly intake values of quantified elements from muscle were below the provisional tolerable weekly intakes. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment in adult consumers, being below one (THQ ≤ 1; and TTHQ ≤ 1), indicated an insignificant health hazard. The estimated incremental and cumulative cancer risks in the adult class through Cr, As, Ni, and Pb exposure were greater than the benchmark (10-5). Accordingly, high dietary intake of metals/metalloid from cultured O. mykiss posed a risk of carcinogenesis in the adult risk class.

Human health risk assessment of selected metal(loid)s via crayfish (Faxonius virilis; Procambarus acutus acutus) consumption in Missouri.

Farmed crustaceans are an important component in addressing the rising animal protein demand. The present study determined the concentrations of fourteen elements (Ag, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sn, Pb, and Zn) in the edible abdominal muscle of cultured freshwater crayfish species (Faxonius virilis; Procambarus acutus acutus) from Missouri. Also, this paper describes the dietary intake and the human health risks from the consumption of crayfish muscle in the adult population. Overall, 172 animals were captured between February 2017 and January 2018 for assessment. Concentrations of metals (Ag, Be, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Mo, and Zn) and metalloid (As) in the muscle tissue were determined after microwave-assisted acid digestion by ICP - OES. Health indices (EDI/EWI: estimated daily/weekly intakes; THQ: target hazard quotient; TTHQ: total target hazard quotient; ILCR: incremental lifetime cancer risk; and ∑ILCR: cumulative lifetime cancer risk) were calculated and compared to thresholds. Of all samples, the highest concentrations (mg kg -1 wet weight) of metal(loid)s in muscle were Ag (0.11), As (3.15), Be (0.21), Cd (0.11), Co (0.32), Cr (1.22), Cu (107), Fe (23.0), Mn (8.54), Mo (0.62), Ni (2.65), Pb (1.76), Sn (5.91), and Zn (19.2). In both species, the average As, Cd, and Zn concentrations were below the legal limits. However, the levels of Cu, Pb, and As, in some samples, were in exceedance of the maximum levels. In both species, a significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between the carapace length (CL) and animal body weight (BW). In P. acutus, CL, BW, and animal total length were homogenous (p > 0.05) among the sexes. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test results indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of As, Be, and Zn in F. virilis, and Be and Cr in P. a. acutus among the genders. Significant inter-species differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the levels of Be, Ni, and Pb and the growth factors. The EDI/EWI values were below the permissible limits. THQ and TTHQ values, being below 1.0, indicated no probabilistic health risk. Regarding carcinogenic risk, only As and Ni indicated cancer risk (ILCR >10-5 and ∑ILCR >10-5) to the adult population. High metals/metalloid exposure from crayfish muscle consumption posed potential health hazards to the adult population.

Occurrence of enrofloxacin in overflows from animal lot and residential sewage lagoons and a receiving-stream.

Enrofloxacin (ENRO), a fluoroquinolone, was quantified in overflows from an animal lot and residential sewage lagoons and in a receiving-stream (Gans Creek). The concentrations of ENRO in samples was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. In total, ninety samples including duplicates were analyzed during several monthly sampling campaigns. The samples collected represented the residential sewage lagoon overflow (RLO), animal lot lagoon overflow (ALLO), the combined overflows (RLO and ALLO), and Gans Creek (upstream, midstream and downstream positions). The frequency of detection of ENRO was 90% for RLO and 100% for both ALLO and Gans Creek. The highest concentration of ENRO (0.44 µg/L) was found in ALLO sample collected during high precipitation. ENRO levels found in RLO samples ranged from < LOQ to 259 ng/L and the highest value observed also coincided with high flow. The levels of ENRO found in Gans Creek ranged from 17-216 ng/L. A preliminary ecotoxicological assessment was conducted through calculation of the risk quotients (RQs) for organisms based on the ratio of the measured environmental concentrations in this study to the predicted-no-effect-concentrations (acute and chronic effect) data. From the RQs, high risks were observed for Microcystis aeruginosa (cyanobacteria; RQ = 4.4); Anabaena flosaquae (cyanobacteria; RQ = 1.3); and Lemna minor (aquatic vascular plant; RQ = 2.0). The long-term effects of mixtures of PHCs on Gans Creek watershed are probable.

A comparison of forest and agricultural shallow groundwater chemical status a century after land use change.

Considering the increasing pace of global land use change and the importance of groundwater quality to humans and aquatic ecosystems, studies are needed that relate land use types to patterns of groundwater chemical composition. Piezometer grids were installed in a remnant bottomland hardwood forest (BHF) and a historic agricultural field (Ag) to compare groundwater chemical composition between sites with contrasting land use histories. Groundwater was sampled monthly from June 2011 to June 2013, and analyzed for 50 physiochemical metrics. Statistical tests indicated significant differences (p<0.05) between the study sites for 32 out of 50 parameters. Compared to the Ag site, BHF groundwater was characterized by significantly (p<0.05) lower pH, higher electrical conductivity, and higher concentrations of total dissolved solids and inorganic carbon. BHF groundwater contained significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of all nitrogen species except nitrate, which was higher in Ag groundwater. BHF groundwater contained significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of nutrients such as sulfur, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium, relative to the Ag site. Ag groundwater was characterized by significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of trace elements such as arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, and titanium. Comparison of shallow groundwater chemical composition with that of nearby receiving water suggests that subsurface concentration patterns are the result of contrasting site hydrology and vegetation. Results detail impacts of surface vegetation alteration on subsurface chemistry and groundwater quality, thereby illustrating land use impacts on the lithosphere and hydrosphere. This study is among the first to comprehensively characterize and compare shallow groundwater chemical composition at sites with contrasting land use histories.

Trace element content of fish feed and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) from aquaculture and wild source in Missouri.

Trace element content of fish feed and bluegill sunfish muscles (Lepomis macrochirus) from aquaculture and natural pond in Missouri were determined using the inductively coupled-plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and the direct mercury analyzer (DMA). Dietary intake rates of trace elements were estimated. Dogfish muscle (DORM-2) and lobster hepatopancreas (TORT-2) reference standards were used in trace element recovery and method validations. The average elemental concentrations (mg/kg diet, dry wt.) of fish feed were: As 1.81, Cd 2.37, Co 0.10, Cr 1.42, Cu 8.0, Fe 404, Mn 35.9, Ni 0.51, Pb 9.16, Se 1.71, Sn 20.7, V 0.09, Zn 118 and Hg 0.07. The mean elemental concentrations (µg/kg wet wt.) in bluegill muscles from both aquaculture and wild (in parenthesis) sources were: As 0.36 (0.06), Cd 0.28 (0.01), Co 0.0 (0.0), Cr 0.52 (0.05), Cu 0.38 (0.18), Fe 17.5 (2.43), Mn 0.18 (0.24), Ni 0.18 (0.04), Pb 1.03 (0.04), Se 0.34 (0.30), Sn 0.66 (0.42), V 0.02 (0.01), Zn 6.97 (9.13) and Hg 0.06 (0.24). Kruskal-Wallis chi square indicated significant differences in As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sn, V, Zn and Hg (P<0.001), Se (P<0.01) and Mn (P<0.05) across the sampling locations. Dietary intake rates, estimated from weekly consumption of 228g of aquaculture and wild bluegills, posed no health risks for approximately 85% of all samples.

Baseline concentrations of trace elements in residential soils from Southeastern Missouri.

Anthropogenic sources of pollution can significantly contribute to elevated concentrations of toxic elements in soils. A preliminary survey of trace elements content and their availability in residential soils from New Madrid County, Missouri was undertaken. Mean elemental concentrations (mg kg(-1), dry wt) of sixty two soil samples were: As 6.6, Be 0.8, Cd 1.6, Co 9.7, Cr 24.5, Cu 18.1, Fe 9951, Mn 298, Ni 15.6, Pb 48.8, V 42.1, Zn 95.5 and Hg 0.05. The US EPA preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) was only exceeded by As (7 % of samples) and V (8% of samples). The Missouri average background values were exceeded by Pb (69%), Zn (31%), Cu (27%), As (23%), Be (19%), Co (18%), Ni (16%), V (8%) and Mn (2%). Crustal enrichments (EFc) for As (97), Cr (6), Cu (10), Pb (121), V (7), and Hg (17) were highest for North Lilbourn soils. Fractionation experiment revealed that Fe (54-79%) was in the residual phase while Zn (70-90%), Mn (88-92%), As (59-81%) and Pb (63-79%) were potentially available in soils. Factor loadings of the element concentrations on principal components 1, 2 and 3 accounted for over 81% variance of the data set. The factor loadings suggested that apart from natural contributions of trace elements to the soils, human activities possibly accounted for other inputs in soils.

Chemical quality of bottled waters from three cities in eastern Alabama.

Twenty-five brands of bottled waters consisting of both purified and spring types collected randomly from three Alabama cities, USA were assessed for their suitability for human consumption. Water quality constituents analyzed include pH, conductivity, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate + nitrite, sulfate, phosphate, total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), total organic carbon (TOC), and 27 elements on the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The results obtained were compared with US EPA drinking water standards and the European union (EU) drinking water directive. Ni was non-detectable in all the samples and Cu, Pb, Sb, Zn, Mn, Al, Cr, Mg, P, Ca, sulfate, chloride and nitrates + nitrites were all below their respective USEPA drinking water standards or EU maximum admissible concentrations (MAC). The conductivity, pH, As, Cd, Hg, Zn, Se and Tl values in some samples exceeded the EU and USEPA standards for drinking water. No sample had pH > 8.5, but seven bottled water brands analyzed were acidic (pH < 6.5). Most of the sampled brands had TOC concentrations exceeding 3 mg/l. The concentrations of most water quality constituents analyzed, in most cases, were higher in the spring water brands compared to the purified or distilled brands of bottled water. A one-way parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted on pH, conductivity, IC, TOC, Ca, Na, K, Mg, Se, sulfate, chloride and nitrate + nitrite values for 10 brands of bottled water to ascertain the homogeneity of variances within and between the brands, suggested significant differences in variances across the brands at a 95% confidence level except for selenium, sodium and calcium.