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Updated: Nov 14, 2025
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
From Past Use to Present Effects: Total Mercury in Crustaceans and Fish in the Inner Estuary of Paraíba do Sul River,
Ana Paula Madeira Di Beneditto1, Helena do Amaral Kehrig2, Inácio Abreu Pestana2
1Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, CBB, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013- 602, Brazil. anapaula@uenf.br.
Abstract:
Total mercury (Hg) concentration and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) were used as chemical tracers in two crustaceans and four fish species that are targets of subsistence fishery in the inner estuary of the Paraíba do Sul River. This fluvial environment in southeast Brazil has a large historical utilization of Hg. δ15N was a better predictor of Hg concentration in the muscle (edible part) than δ13C; i.e., the Hg concentration was more closely related to the trophic position of species than species' trophic habitat. Consumers at higher trophic levels had higher Hg concentrations. The Hg concentration was below the maximum permissible limits established by the Brazilian Government in fishery products, and there are no human risks related to its consumption.
