Risk assessment of microcystins in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) from eight eutrophic lakes in China

Bioaccumulation and risk assessment of microcystins (MCs) in muscle of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) from eight eutrophic lakes along the Yangtze River of China were examined by using liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. MCs contents in seston collected from these eutrophic lakes ranged from 0.02 to 21.7 μg/L. MCs concentrations in silver carp muscle samples varied from 0.014 to 0.036 μg/g DW with an average of 0.028 μg/g DW. The total length of silver carp showed a significant negative correlation with MCs concentrations in their muscle (r = −0.85, p < 0.05), suggesting that MCs accumulation in silver carp muscle seems to be size dependent. EDI values of MCs in fish muscle from these eight eutrophic lakes varied from 0.0027 to 0.0071 μg/kg day, which was much lower than the TDI value of 0.04 μg/kg day previously established by WHO, indicating that it is safe to consume silver carp muscle from eutrophic lakes in China.