Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Arsenic Bioaccumulation and Identification of Low-Arsenic-Accumulating Food Fishes for Aquaculture in Arsenic-Contaminated Ponds and Associated Aquatic Ecosystems

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Arsenic-contaminated food including farmed fish is one of the main routes of human exposure. Fish farmed in contaminated environment accumulates arsenic in different tissues with great variability. Thus, it is utmost important to quantify the risk associated with different farmed fish species in arsenic-contaminated aquaculture systems. In the present study, arsenic content was measured in twelve fish species (Labeo rohita, L. catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Oreochromis niloticus, O. mossambicus, Liza tade, Puntius javanicus, L. calbasu, Glossogobius giuris, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Bellamya bengalensis (gastropod)) collected from arsenic-contaminated aquaculture systems. Among the studied finfishes, C. idella was found to accumulate the lowest amount of arsenic (< 0.05 ± 0.00 mg kg−1) whereas the highest accumulation was noticed in O. mossambicus (1.0 ± 0.18 mg kg−1). However, the estimated carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of human were found to be low for all the studied fishes. The calculated target hazard quotient (THQ) value for adults ranged from 0.01 to 0.08 whereas for children it ranged from 0.05 to 0.27 for low-arsenic-accumulating fishes (arsenic conc. < 0.5 mg kg−1). Based on these findings, C. mrigala, C. idella, and M. rosenbergii could be recommended as the candidate species for aquaculture in the arsenic-contaminated areas as farming of the low-arsenic-accumulating food fishes would also lower the risk of human exposure through food chain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ye Y, Gaugler B, Mohty M, Malard F (2020) Old dog, new trick: trivalent arsenic as an immunomodulatory drug. Br J Pharmacol 177:2199–2214. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15011

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Mohanty BP, Mitra T, Ganguly S, Sarkar SD, Mahanty A (2020) Curcumin has protective effect on the eye lens against arsenic toxicity. Biol Trace Elem Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02448-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2012) IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans: a review of human carcinogens: arsenic, metals, fibres, and dusts. Lyon, France: World Health Organization; Vol. 100C

  4. Shaji E, Santosh M, Sarath KV, Prakash P, Deepchand V, Divya BV (2021) Arsenic contamination of groundwater: a global synopsis with focus on the Indian Peninsula. Geosci Front 12:101079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2020.08.015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Mohanty BP, Mahanty A, Ganguly S, Mitra T, Karunakaran D, Anandan R (2019) Nutritional composition of food fishes and their importance in providing food and nutritional security. Food Chem 293:561–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Teixeira, Mônica Cristina, Santos, Alcylane Caldeira, Fernandes, Carla Silva, Ng JC (2020) Arsenic contamination assessment in Brazil – past, present and future concerns: a historical and critical review. Sci Total Environ 730

  7. Mohanty BP, Banerjee S, Sadhukhan P, Chowdhury AN, Golder D, Bhattacharjee S, Bhowmick S, Manna SK, Samanta S (2015) Pathophysiological changes in rohu (Labeo rohita, Hamilton) fingerlings following arsenic exposure. Natl Acad Sci Lett 38(4):315–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Banerjee S, Mahanty A, Mohanty S, Mazumder DG, Cash P, Mohanty BP (2017) Identification of potential biomarkers of hepatotoxicity by plasma proteome analysis of arsenic-exposed carp Labeo rohita. J Hazard Mater 336:71–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.04.054

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. AnvariFar H, Amirkolaie AK, Jalali AM, Miandare HK, Sayed AH, Sema IU, Ouraji H, Ceci M, Romano N (2018) Environmental pollution and toxic substances: cellular apoptosis as a key parameter in a sensible model like fish. Aquat Toxicol 204:144–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.09.010

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Banerjee S, Mitra T, Purohit GK, Mohanty S, Mohanty BP (2015) Immunomodulatory effect of arsenic on cytokine and HSP gene expression in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Fish Shellfish Immunol 44:43–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2015.01.029

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. FAO (2020) The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2020. Sustainability in action, Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9229en

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Azizur Rahman M, Hasegawa H, Peter Lim R (2012) Bioaccumulation, biotransformation and trophic transfer of arsenic in the aquatic food chain. Environ Res 116:118–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2012.03.014

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhang W, Huang L, Wang WX (2011) Arsenic bioaccumulation in a marine juvenile fish Terapon jarbua. Aquat Toxicol 105:582–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2011.08.009

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kumari B, Kumar V, Sinha AK, Jawaid A, Ghosh AK, Hanping W, DeBoeck G (2016) Toxicology of arsenic in fish and aquatic systems. Environ Chem Lett. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-016-0588-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Quintela FM, Lima GP, Silveira ML, Costa PG, Bianchini A, Loebmann D, Martins SE (2019) High arsenic and low lead concentrations in fish and reptiles from Taim wetlands, a Ramsar site in southern Brazil. Sci Total Environ 660:1004–1014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.031

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Burger J, Gaines KF, Boring CS, Stephens WL, Snodgrass J, Dixon C, McMahon M, Shukla S, Shukla T, Gochfeld M (2002) Metal levels in fish from the Savannah river: potential hazards to fish and other receptors. Environ Res 89:85–97. https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.2002.4330

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen CY, Folt CL (2000) Bioaccumulation and diminution of arsenic and lead in a freshwater food web. 34:3878–3884

  18. Milošković A, Simić V (2015) Arsenic and other trace elements in five edible fish species in relation to fish size and weight and potential health risks for human consumption. Polish J Environ Stud 24:199–206. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/24929

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Williams L, Schoof RA, Yager JW, Goodrich-Mahoney JW (2006) Arsenic bioaccumulation in freshwater fishes. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 12:904–923. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807030600826821

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. USEPA (2000) Methodology for deriving ambient water quality criteria for the protection of human health. EPA-822-B-00–004. Office of Water., Washington, DC, USA.

  21. APHA (American Public Health Association AW works A and WEF (2005) Standard methods of examination of water and wastewater, 21st ed. APHA, Washington, D. C.

  22. USEPA (1996) Method 3050B. Acid digestion of sediments, sludges, and soils. Test methods for evaluating solid waste. USA

  23. Suresh G, Ramasamy V, Sundarrajan M, Paramasivam K (2015) Spatial and vertical distributions of heavy metals and their potential toxicity levels in various beach sediments from high-background-radiation area, Kerala, India. Mar Pollut Bull 91:389–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.11.007

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Muller (1979) Schwermetalle in den sediments des Rheins-Veranderungenseitt. Umschan 79:778–783

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kumar VS, Raman RK, Talukder A, Kakati A, Bhowmick S, Manna SK, Samanta S, Mohanty BP (2020) Clinico-epidemiological study of arsenicosis in arsenic endemic areas of West Bengal. India. J Inl Fish Soc India 52:068. https://doi.org/10.47780/jifsi.52.1.2020.106546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Latimer Jr, GW (2016). Official methods of analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONAL 20th edition, Appendix D, Guidelines for collaborative study procedures to validate characteristics of a method of analysis. Gaithersburg, MD, USA.

  27. USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (2000) Risk-based concentration table. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Philadelphia, PA, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  28. Salim S (2016) Fish consumption pattern in India: paradigm shifts and paradox of export trade (Fish consumption pattern in India, exports - overview). Food Beverage News 25–28

  29. Kar S, Maity JP, Jean JS, Liu CC, Liu CW, Bundschuh J, Lu HY (2011) Health risks for human intake of aquacultural fish: arsenic bioaccumulation and contamination. J Environ Sci Health, Part A, 4529 https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2011.598814

  30. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Preamble and annexes (2000). Codex general standard for contaminants and toxins in food. CODEX-STAN 193–1995 (Rev.1– 1997) Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. FAO, Rome, Italy.

  31. USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (2011). USEPA regional screening level (RSL) summary table: November 2011.

  32. USEPA (2007). Slope factors (SF) for carcinogens from US EPA [WWW Document]. URL 474. http://popstoolkit.com/tools/HHRA/SF_USEPA.aspx

  33. Chowdhury AN, Samanta S, Manna SK, Sharma AP, Bandopadhyay C, Pramanik K, Sarkar S, Mohanty BP (2015) Arsenic in freshwater ecosystems of the Bengal delta: status, sources and seasonal variability. Toxicol Environ Chem 97:538–551. https://doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1053482

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Marriott AL, Kelly TJ, Sarkar SK, Chenery SRN, Rakshit D, Bhattacharya BD, Watts MJ (2020) Elemental composition of aquaculture fish from West Bengal, India: nutrition versus food safety. Environ Geochem Health 42:1211–1228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00401-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Cheng Z, Chen KC, Li KB, Nie XP, Wu SC, Wong CKC, Wong MH (2013) Arsenic contamination in the freshwater fish ponds of Pearl River Delta: bioaccumulation and health risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:4484–4495. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1382-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Barral-Fraga L, Barral MT, MacNeill KL, Martiñá-Prieto D, Morin S, Rodríguez-Castro MC, Tuulaikhuu BA, Guasch H (2020) Biotic and abiotic factors influencing arsenic biogeochemistry and toxicity in fluvial ecosystems: a review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17:. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072331

  37. Sarkar S (2012) Final report of NAIP sub-project ‘Arsenic in Food-Chain: Cause, Effect and Mitigation’. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India.

  38. Kumar B, Sajwan KS, Mukherjee DP (2012) Distribution of heavy metals in valuable coastal fishes from North East Coast of India. Turkish J Fish Aquat Sci 12:81–88. https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v12_1_10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Mukherjee DP, Bhupander K (2011) Assessment of arsenic, cadmium and mercury level in commonly consumed coastal fishes from Bay of Bengal, India. Issn 2:2224–6088

    Google Scholar 

  40. Schaller J, Brackhage C, Mkandawire M, Dudel EG (2011) Metal/metalloid accumulation/remobilization during aquatic litter decomposition in freshwater: a review. Sci Total Environ 409:4891–4898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.006

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Tomojiri D, Musikasinthorn P, Iwata A (2019) Food habits of three non-native cichlid fishes in the lowermost Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand. J Freshw Ecol 34:419–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2019.1585392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Juncos R, Arcagni M, Rizzo A, Campbell L, Arribére M, Guevara SR (2016) Natural origin arsenic in aquatic organisms from a deep oligotrophic lake under the influence of volcanic eruptions. Chemosphere 144:2277–2289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Jia Y, Wang L, Li S, Cao J, Yang Z (2018) Species-specific bioaccumulation and correlated health risk of arsenic compounds in freshwater fish from a typical mine-impacted river. Sci Total Environ 625:600–607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.328

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Dovick M, Kulp T, Arkle R, Pilloid D (2015) Ecological partitioning of arsenic and antimony in a freshwater ecosystem impacted by mine drainage. Environ Chem Chem 13:149–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Sarret G, Guedron S, Acha D, Bureau S, Arnaud-Godet F, Tisserand D, Goñi-Urriza M, Gassie C, Duwig C, Proux O, Aucour AM (2019) Extreme arsenic bioaccumulation factor variability in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. Sci Rep 9:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47183-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Dietrich M, Ayers J (2021) Geochemical partitioning and possible heavy metal(loid) bioaccumulation within aquaculture shrimp ponds. Sci Total Environ 788:147777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147777

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Culioli JL, Calendini S, Mori C, Orsini A (2009) Arsenic accumulation in a freshwater fish living in a contaminated river of Corsica, France. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 72:1440–1445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2009.03.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Erickson RJ, Mount DR, Highland TL, Hockett JR, Leonard EN, Mattson VR, Dawson TD, Lott KG (2010) Effects of copper, cadmium, lead, and arsenic in a live diet on juvenile fish growth. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 67:1816–1826. https://doi.org/10.1139/F10-098

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Guha Mazumder D, Dasgupta UB (2011) Chronic arsenic toxicity: studies in West Bengal, India. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 27:360–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjms.2011.05.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Oliveira LHB, Oliveira A, Nogueira ARA, Gonzalez MH (2017) Evaluation of distribution and bioaccumulation of arsenic by ICP-MS in tilapia. J Brazil Chem Soc 28:2455–2463

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge fish farmers of Basirhat, West Bengal, for their cooperation and support during the sampling. Mr. Jagadish, a fish farmer from Adhani, West Bengal, is highly acknowledged. Mr. Rabuil Sk, Senior Technical Assistant, and Sujoy Nath and Seikh Sheriff are also acknowledged for their support during sampling. The authors are also thankful to Shri S. K. Sahu, Senior Scientist, FRAI Division, ICAR-CIFRI, and Dr. Manisha Bhor, Young Professional- II, ICAR-CIFRI, for their help in making GIS map. The authors are very much thankful to the learned Editorial team and the unknown reviewers for their constructive criticism and valuable suggestions that helped in improving the manuscript.

Funding

Funding support was provided by Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, under CIFRI Core-Project No. FREM/17–20/13.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aquatic Environmental Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India

    Santhana Kumar V., Anjon Talukder, Dhruba Jyoti Sarkar, Basanta Kumar Das, Sanjay Bhowmick & Bimal Prasanna Mohanty

  2. ICAR- Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar, 800014, India

    Rohan Kumar Raman

  3. ICAR- National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, 753006, India

    Arabinda Mahanty

  4. Riverine Ecology and Fisheries Division, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India

    Srikanta Samanta

  5. Fisheries Enhancement & Management (FEM) Division, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata, 700120, India

    Sanjib Kumar Manna

  6. ICAR-Fisheries Science Division, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan II, Pusa, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    Bimal Prasanna Mohanty

Authors
  1. Santhana Kumar V.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rohan Kumar Raman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anjon Talukder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Arabinda Mahanty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dhruba Jyoti Sarkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Basanta Kumar Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sanjay Bhowmick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Srikanta Samanta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Sanjib Kumar Manna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Bimal Prasanna Mohanty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Santhana Kumar V: data curation, methodology; sample analysis, original draft writing; Rohan Kumar Raman: sampling, data analysis, preparation; Anjon Talukder: sampling, sample analysis, data curation; Arabinda Mahanty: formal analysis, draft review; Dhruba Jyoti Sarkar: data analysis, draft review and editing; Basanta Kumar Das: sampling, facilities, draft reviewing; Sanjay Bhowmick: sampling, field work; Srikanta Samanta: formal analysis, draft review; Sanjib Kumar Manna: sampling, formal analysis, draft review; Bimal Prasanna Mohanty: conceptualization; lab facilities, funding acquisition; investigation; methodology; overall supervision, draft review.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bimal Prasanna Mohanty.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

ESM 1

(DOCX 20 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

V., S.K., Raman, R.K., Talukder, A. et al. Arsenic Bioaccumulation and Identification of Low-Arsenic-Accumulating Food Fishes for Aquaculture in Arsenic-Contaminated Ponds and Associated Aquatic Ecosystems. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 2923–2936 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02858-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02858-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation