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Seasonal Variations and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Muscle of Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus) Cultured in Subsidence Ponds near Suzhou, East-Central China

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Abstract

Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Ni in the muscle of Carassius auratus collected from the subsidence ponds near Suzhou were detected in four different seasons. Mean levels of Cd, Cr, Zn, Pb, and Cu in fish muscle, except Mn and Ni, were below the benchmarks for safe limits as recommended by various authorities worldwide. In general, the metals’ concentrations found during winter were comparatively higher than those of the other seasons. Correlation study exhibited diverse relationships among the metals in different seasons, and a few significant relationships were found between metal level and fish size. Potential noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks related to the metals in C. auratus were assessed using cancer risk-assessment guidelines approved by the US Environmental protection Agency. Although Mn and Ni concentrations exceeded the limits in some ponds, the calculated daily and weekly intakes of Cd, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Ni through fish consumption were significantly lower than the permissible limits. In relation to the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to human, health risks posed by metals in winter were much higher, and all the risks posed by heavy metals alone and in combination were lower than the safe limits. Consequently, consumption of C. auratus from the subsidence ponds on regular basis was considered safe.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant from the Foundation for Study Encouragement to the Young Scientists and Scientific Research Foundation in 2013 (Risk identification, ZX959) and by the Young and Middle-aged Academic Project in 2014 (Coal gangue filling, QN201407) in Anhui University of Science and Technology. The research was also sponsored by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programs for College Students of Anhui province in 2014 (No. AH201410361115) and in 2015. The authors acknowledge the special supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41373108) and the Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang City Belt, Anhui Province. The authors do appreciate the constructive comments of anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China

    Xingming Wang, Xuke Liu, Yaolai He, Fugeng Zha & Zhongbing Dong

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang City Belt, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China

    Xingming Wang

  3. College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China

    Xingming Wang

  4. Major of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Biotechnology, Assumption University, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand

    Xuanyi Hu

  5. School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    Guijian Liu & Hui Li

  6. School of Resource and Environment Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Mines Environmental Remediation and Wetland Ecological Security, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China

    Liugen Zheng

  7. Department of Life Science, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, 232038, China

    Zhongbing Dong

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  1. Xingming Wang
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Correspondence to Fugeng Zha.

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Wang, X., Liu, X., He, Y. et al. Seasonal Variations and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Muscle of Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus) Cultured in Subsidence Ponds near Suzhou, East-Central China. Expo Health 8, 79–91 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0184-4

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