Seasonal Variations in Heavy Metal Concentrations in Mussels (Mytilus chilensis) from Southern Chile: Health Risk Implications Associated with Their Consumption

<i>Mytilus chilensis</i> is considered an important food source for the Chilean population and represents a considerable fraction of its aquacultural production, mainly in southern Chile's coastal regions. This study aimed to assess the concentrations of total arsenic (tAs), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), their bioaccessibility, and associated health risks in <i>M. chilensis</i> from the Valdivia River Estuary (VRE) in the Los Ríos Region and the Reloncaví Fjord (RF) in the Los Lagos Region. The metal concentrations were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations of tAs, Cd, and Pb were 6682 ± 2018, 1592 ± 742, and 1208 ± 639 ng/g d.w., respectively. Variations in the metal concentrations were observed across areas, months, and sampling points but remained below national and international limits. No correlation was found between the metal concentrations and environmental parameters. The bioaccessibility percentages were tAs (68 ± 10%), Cd (45 ± 21%), and Pb (15 ± 4%). The tAs, Pb and Cd levels in <i>M. chilensis</i> from southern Chile do not represent a risk to human health.