Using Rutilus rutilus (L.) and Perca fluviatilis (L.) as Bioindicators of the Environmental Condition and Human Health: Lake ?a?skie, Poland

Joanna Łuczyńska, Beata Paszczyk, Marek Jan Łuczyński, Monika Kowalska-Góralska, Joanna Nowosad and Dariusz Kucharczyk
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Joanna Łuczyńska: Chair of Commodity and Food Analysis, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Plac Cieszyński 1, 10-726 Olsztyn, Poland
Beata Paszczyk: Chair of Commodity and Food Analysis, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Plac Cieszyński 1, 10-726 Olsztyn, Poland
Marek Jan Łuczyński: The Stanisław Sakowicz Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 10, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Monika Kowalska-Góralska: Department of Limnology and Fishery, Institute of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. J. Chełmońskiego 38 c, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Joanna Nowosad: Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, Warmia and Mazury University, Al. Warszawska 117A, 10-701 Olsztyn, Poland
Dariusz Kucharczyk: Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, Warmia and Mazury University, Al. Warszawska 117A, 10-701 Olsztyn, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the mercury content and fatty acids profile in roach ( Rutilus rutilus L.) and European perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.) from Lake ?a?skie (Poland). Mercury content was higher in the muscles than other organs in both species ( p < 0.05). Mercury accumulates along the food chain of the lake’s ecosystem. The value of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) indicated that Hg had accumulated in the highest amounts in muscles and in the other organs as follows: muscles > liver > gills > gonads. The metal pollution index (MPI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) were below 1, which means that these fish are safe for consumers. The values of HIS, GSI and FCF indicators show that both species of fish can be good indicators of water quality and food contamination. There were few differences between fatty acid content in the muscles of perch and roach. Contents of fatty acids having an undesirable dietary effect in humans (OFA—hypercholesterolemic fatty acids) were lower compared to hypocholesterolemic fatty acids (DFA, i.e., the desirable ones). In addition, the lipid quality indices AI and TI in the muscles of fish were at 0.40 and 0.22 (perch) and at 0.35 and 0.22 (roach), respectively. On this basis, it can be concluded that the flesh of the fish studied is beneficial from the health point of view.

Keywords: freshwater fish; total mercury; BCF; THQ; lipid quality indices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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