Abstract

The main source of mercury pollution for humans is the consumption of marine organisms, which depends mainly on the supply and preferences of people. The objective of this research was to evaluate mercury contamination in the species Lutjanus synagris, one of the species most captured by artisanal fisheries and of high commercial value. For this, the concentration of mercury in sediment and muscle (d.w.) was measured in 31 individuals, captured with hook lines, during the year 2023, in two fishing sites in the Gulf of Salamanca, Colombian Caribbean. The mercury concentration in L. synagris ranged between 0.179 and 2.510 µg/g for an average value of 0.636±0.522 µg/g. There were significant differences between the sampling sites in muscle mercury. The concentration of mercury in sediments ranged between 0.003 and 0.017 µg/g for an average value of 0.008±0.005 µg/g. Moderate contamination according to the Potential Contamination Index and a low ecological risk were found in the sediments of the two sites. The estimated daily consumption calculation for L. synagris indicates a low risk associated with snapper consumption for adults and unsafe consumption for children, as recommended by the EPA. Likewise, 13% of the fish evaluated can be consumed twice a week, 35% only once a week and consumption should be avoided for 52% of individuals. In the Gulf of Salamanca, high concentrations of mercury in L. synagris can be found in areas with low concentrations of mercury in sediments, which agrees with what was found in other sites in the Colombian Caribbean. The accumulation of mercury in L. synagris can have an impact on artisanal fishing by compromising the quality of fishing resources, as risks to human health may arise due to its consumption.