# Heavy metal contamination in duck eggs from a mercury mining area, southwestern China

## TL;DR

This study found higher levels of heavy metals in duck eggs from a mercury mining area in China compared to non-mining areas, indicating potential health and ecological risks.

## Contribution

The study provides new data on heavy metal contamination in duck eggs from mercury mining regions in China.

## Key findings

- Duck eggs from the mercury mining area had significantly higher concentrations of Cr, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb than those from the background area.
- Egg yolks contained higher metal levels than egg whites in the mining area samples.
- Heavy metal contamination in duck eggs poses ecological and health risks based on contamination and risk assessments.

## Abstract

Mercury (Hg) contamination in the environment around mercury mines is often accompanied by heavy metal contamination.

Here, we determined concentrations of chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in duck eggs from a Hg mining area in Southwest China to assess the contamination and health risk.

Duck eggs obtained from the mining area exhibit higher concentrations of Cr, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb compared to those from the background area, with egg yolks containing higher metal levels than egg whites. Specifically, the mean Cr, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb concentrations of duck eggs from the Hg mining area are 0.38, 63.06, 4.86, 10.08, and 0.05 μg/g, respectively, while those from the background area are only 0.21, 24.65, 1.43, 1.05, and 0.01 μg/g. Based on the single-factor contamination index and health risk assessment, heavy metal contamination in duck eggs poses an ecological risk and health risk.

This study provides important insight into heavy metal contamination in duck eggs from Hg mining areas.