Environmental mercury concentrations in cultured low-trophic-level fish using food waste-based diets

Zhang Cheng, Wing Yin Mo, Yu Bon Man, Cheung Lung Lam, Wai Ming Choi, Xiang Ping Nie, Yi Hui Liu, Ming Hung Wong*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, different types of food wastes were used as the major source of protein to replace the fish meal in fish feeds to produce quality fish (polyculture of different freshwater fish). During October 2011–April 2012, the concentrations of Hg in water, suspended particulate matter, and sediment of the three experimental fish ponds located in Sha Tau Kok Organic Farm were monitored, and the results were similar to or lower than those detected in commercial fish ponds around the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region (by comparing data of previous and present studies). Health risk assessments indicated that human consumption of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), a herbivore which fed food waste feed pellets would be safer than other fish species: mud carp (Cirrhina molitorella) , bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and largemouth bass (Lepomis macrochirus). Due to the lower species diversity and substantially shorter food chains of the polyculture system consisting of only three fish species, the extent of Hg biomagnification was significantly lower than other polyculture ponds around PRD. Furthermore, the use of food waste instead of fish meal (mainly consisted of contaminated trash fish) further reduced the mercury accumulation in the cultured fish.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)495-507
Number of pages13
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Aug 2015

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

User-Defined Keywords

  • Bioaccumulation
  • China
  • Food waste
  • Methylmercury
  • Total mercury

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