Metal Biological Enrichment Capacities, Distribution Patterns and Health Risk Implications in a Major Aquacultured Fish Species Worldwide

Abstract Seabass (Lateolabrax japonicas) is a major aquacultured fish species worldwide. The bioconcentration, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of metals present in water, sediments and commercial feed were investigated in L. japonicas from an aquaculture pond in the Pearl River Delta (south China). Aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) were determined in the dorsal muscle, viscera, backbone, gill and stomach contents of L. japonicas. The gill and stomach contents were found to have higher levels of bioconcentration of most metals than other parts. Based on the bioaccumulation factor, the gill and backbone exhibited the highest accumulation of Zn, while the viscera had the highest capacity to accumulate Cu. The mean biomagnification factor values exceeded for As in dorsal muscle, for Cu in the viscera, for Cr and Pb in the gill, and for Al, Cr, Fe, Cu and Pb in the stomach contents, indicating efficient bioaccumulation from commercial feed and their habitat. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed two groups that primarily resulted from the accumulation of metals in various parts of L. japonicas. Moreover, health risk assessment indicated that no notable adverse health effects are likely to occur from the ingestion of L. japonicas as an aquacultured food source.