Presence of arsenic, mercury and vanadium in aquatic organisms of Laizhou Bay and their potential health risk

Highlights: • Trace elements and stable isotopes were analyzed in aquatic organisms. • Levels of As, Hg and V differed among species. • Positive correlation between the concentrations of Hg and δ¹⁵N • The potential risks caused by As through organism consumption need more attention. - Abstract: This study aims at describing and interpreting concentrations of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and vanadium (V) in seven species of fish, three species of shellfish, one species of crab and two species of shrimp from the typical estuary-bay ecosystem. Arsenic, Hg and V differed among species, and the highest As, Hg and V were observed in shellfish. The stable nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) isotopes were determined to investigate the trophic interactions between fluctuating environment and aquatic species. Arsenic concentrations in samples were found negatively correlated with δ¹⁵N, implying biodilution effect of As through the food web, while Hg concentrations in samples were positively correlated with δ¹⁵N, indicating their biomagnification effect. The estimated daily intake values of Hg and V in this study were all below the oral reference dose. However, elevated As intakes of some aquatic organisms suggested a potential risk for frequent consumers.