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Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is a popular seafood choice worldwide, however, except for mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se), little is known about the concentration of other trace elements in dolphinfish muscle tissue, especially in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. This study investigated the relationship between body length (61 to 94 cm fork length) and trace element [silver (Ag), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), Hg, manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), Se, and zinc (Zn)] concentrations in muscle tissue of dolphinfish caught off Long Island, New York (n = 16). There was a positive relationship with body length for As and Hg, a negative relationship with body length for Cu and Zn, and no relationship with body length for Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Se. A negative relationship between the Se:Hg molar ratio and body length and Se:Hg molar ratio and Hg concentration was observed. Dolphinfish were low in Hg with only 18.9% (n = 3) of individuals exceeding the U.S. EPA human health criterion of 0.3 µg/g wet weight, making this species a suitable seafood choice to reduce dietary intake of Hg at the investigated body length. All fish had a Se:Hg molar ratio > 1:1 indicating that Se may have a protective effect against Hg toxicity. The selenium health benefit value (HBVSe) for all individuals was > 1, indicating there may be health benefits from consuming dolphinfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A few recent studies have demonstrated heightened hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to acute stress in animals exposed to heavy metal contaminants, particularly lead. However, Pb-induced dysregulation of the HPA axis has not yet been studied in humans. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined children's cortisol response to acute stress (the glucocorticoid product of HPA activation) in relation to low-level prenatal and postnatal Pb exposure. METHODS: Children's prenatal blood Pb levels were determined from cord blood specimens, and postnatal lead levels were abstracted from pediatrician and state records. Children's adrenocortical responses to an acute stressor were measured using assays of salivary cortisol before and after administration of a standard cold pressor task. RESULTS: Pb exposure was not associated with initial salivary cortisol levels. After an acute stressor, however, increasing prenatal and postnatal blood Pb levels were independently associated with significantly heightened salivary cortisol responses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that relatively low prenatal and postnatal blood lead levels—notably those below the 10 μg/dL blood lead level identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health purposes—can alter children's adrenocortical responses to acute stress. The behavioral and health consequences of this Pb-induced HPA dysregulation in children have yet to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]