title: Associations between omega-3 fatty acids, selenium content, and mercury levels in wild-harvested fish from the Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories, Canada.
abstract: To better understand the risks and benefits of eating wild-harvested fish from the Northwest Territories, Canada, levels of total mercury (HgT) and selenium (Se) and composition of omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) were measured in muscle tissue of fish harvested from lakes in the Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories, Canada. Average HgT levels ranged from 0.057 mg/kg (cisco) to 0.551 mg/kg (northern pike), while average n-3 FA concentrations ranged from 101 mg/100 g (burbot) to 1,689 mg/100 g (lake trout). In contrast to HgT and n-3 FA, mean Se concentrations were relatively similar among species. Consequently, species such as lake whitefish, cisco, and longnose sucker displayed the highest nutrient levels relative to HgT content. Levels of HgT tended to increase with fish size, while Se and n-3 FA levels were typically not associated with fork length or fish weight. Interestingly, HgT concentration was occasionally inversely related to tissue nutrient content. Significant negative correlations were observed between Hg and n-3 FA for lake trout, northern pike, and walleye. There were also significant negative correlations between Hg and Se noted for lake whitefish, cisco, and northern pike. Samples with the highest nutritional content displayed, on occasion, lower levels of HgT. This study provides valuable information for the design of probabilistic models capable of refining public health messaging related to minimizing Hg risks and maximizing nutrient levels in wild-harvested fish in the Canadian subarctic.
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Ellen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: b Department of Kinesiology , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Aristizabal Henao
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biology , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kornobis
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Rhona M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hanning
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Shannon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Majowicz
authors.affiliation: d Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Canada.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liber
authors.affiliation: b Department of Kinesiology , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Ken D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.affiliation: e Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Ocean Management , Hay River, Northwest Territories , Canada.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biology , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Heidi K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Laird
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D015873:Northwest Territories; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium