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Evaluation of contamination of chemical elements in fish samples using human health risk assessment indices
Abstract
This work reports carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic indices in inorganic assessing contamination in fish samples. In this context, fifty-one sardine samples were commercially acquired in seventeen neighborhoods and were toxicologically evaluated. These samples were washed, frozen, freeze-dried, and digested in a microwave oven. Six chemical elements were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The average levels on a wet basis expressed as μg g−1, ranged from 0.34 to 2.03 for total arsenic, 0.12 to 4.42 for copper, 0.04 to 0.26 for chromium, 4.61 to 99.39 for iron, 3.73 to 34.99 for zinc, and 0.01 to 4.07 for manganese. The estimated weekly intake, target hazard quotient, maximum safe consumption quantity, and carcinogenic risk indices were applied to the data found, denoting that arsenic levels can cause carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic adverse effects on the health of residents. However, these risks are minimized because the evaluation indices were calculated by total arsenic concentrations. In fish matrices, the arsenic is predominantly arsenobetaine, which has low toxicity. Samples from ten neighborhoods also showed copper concentrations that indicate the likelihood of carcinogenic risks. The chromium, iron, zinc, and manganese levels do not pose any health risks to consumers.
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This study described the distribution of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb in 692 bean samples from Zhejiang province, southeast China, and estimated the health risk using Monte Carlo simulation. The average levels of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb were 0.0349, 0.0379, 0.246, 0.0019, and 0.0246 mg kg−1. Correlation analyses showed very strong positive correlations for Cd-Pb in kidney beans and mung beans, Cd-As in black beans, and Pb-As in red beans. The target hazard quotients (THQs) were adopted for non-carcinogenic risk assessment, and THQs at the 50th percentile were all less than 1, indicating that there are no deleterious effects from rice exposure to these elements. When evaluating THQ for multiple elements, the certainty with a hazard index (HI) greater than 1 for children was 12.64%, for teens 11.54%, and for adults 1.01%. The sensitivity analysis reveals that the concentration of Cd in beans and ED (exposure duration) are the main principal factors that contributed to the total risk. The mean carcinogenic risks for children, teens, and adults were all less than 1 × 10−4, indicating no potential carcinogenic risk. Despite that, the routine monitoring of these elements, especially for Cd should be continued.
The Amazon suffers from the occurrence of mining along its hydrographic routes, which releases toxic substances into the aquatic environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of contamination by As and Hg that indigenous peoples are exposed to through the consumption of fish in an area impacted by mining activity in the basin of the Curuá and Baú Rivers, Altamira-PA. In total, 55 fish specimens and 30 surface water samples were collected. The decomposition of the fish samples was done by wet method with the use of nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and microwaves. The quantification of total mercury (THg) and total arsenic (TAs) was carried out by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry with vapor generation (VG-ICP OES). The methodology proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was used. The results showed that TAs presents safe levels; however, THg presents a sample with levels up to (4.6 µg g-1), exceeding the permitted levels (1 µg g-1). The risk assessment shows that only the consumption of fish, linked to Hg, represents the existence of deleterious risks to indigenous peoples (hazard quotient (HQ)) > 1). Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in fish represents a risk to indigenous people, because of the Hg’s presence. The study identified that illegal mining activities are responsible for Hg pollution in the Baú and Curuá Rivers. The fish species analyzed can be used as bioindicators of Hg in the rivers, which is relevant for making environmental and public health policy decisions.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) play a significant role in the prevention and management of cardiometabolic diseases associated with a mild chronic pro-inflammatory background, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridaemia, and fatty liver disease. The effects of n-3 PUFA supplements specifically, remain controversial regarding reducing risks of cardiovascular events. n-3 PUFA supplements come at a cost for the consumer and can result in polypharmacy for patients on pharmacotherapy. Sardines are a well-known, inexpensive source of n-3 PUFA and their consumption could reduce the need for n-3 PUFA supplementation. Moreover, sardines contain other cardioprotective nutrients, although further insights are crucial to translate a recommendation for sardine consumption into clinical practice. The present review discusses the matrix of nutrients contained in sardines which confer health benefits for cardiometabolism, beyond n-3 PUFA. Sardines contain calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, taurine, arginine and other nutrients which together modulate mild inflammation and exacerbated oxidative stress observed in cardiovascular disease and in haemodynamic dysfunction. In a common serving of sardines, calcium, potassium, and magnesium are the minerals at higher amounts to elicit clinical benefits, whilst other nutrients are present in lower but valuable amounts. A pragmatic approach towards the consumption of such nutrients in the clinical scenario should be adopted to consider the dose–response relationship effects on physiological interactions. As most recommendations currently available are based on an indirect rationale of the physiological actions of the nutrients found in sardines, randomised clinical trials are warranted to expand the evidence on the benefits of sardine consumption.
Sardine co-products can represent an interesting source of bioactive compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and in particular omega-3. This study aimed to investigate extraction of oil from sardine co-products by enzymatic hydrolysis using two proteases: commercial Alcalase and protease Bb from a local fungal strain (P2) of Beauveria bassiana, which overproduces proteases. Despite a higher degree of hydrolysis (41.34%) than Alcalase (24.28%), protease Bb allowed the extraction of approximately the same oil content. Resulting oil from both processes had the same fatty acid profile. Interestingly, the all-produced oil displayed an attractive w6/w3 ratio, an indicator of nutritional quality, of the order of 0.16. The safety of the generated oils was also assessed by treating two groups of Wistar rats with the fish oil administered by oral gavage at the doses (30 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days using olive oil as a vehicle. Compared to controls used, both treated groups showed no statistically significant differences. Consequently, the acute oral toxicity evaluated by hematological, biochemical, and histological studies showed the safety of the oil generated using B. bassiana protease.
Fish is a relatively cheap and accessible source of animal protein for human consumption even in rural communities. It is critical for global food and nutrition security, and its consumption continues to increase. As a highly nutritious food, fish consumption is highly recommended for children and expectant mothers for normal growth and development. The present paper explores the nutritional value of fish as approach to nutrition in children and its benefits. The findings reveal that fish is a valuable source of essential amino acids (EAA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that play important physiological functions for maintenance and development of fetuses, neonates, and infant brains. Therefore, it could be a valuable tool in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition. However, fish and fish products are also highly susceptible to contamination by various organic and inorganic compounds that threaten public health. Particularly, heavy metals and biogenic amines (BAs) have shown adverse effects when contaminated fish is consumed, and the effects in children have been worse. Hence, while fish consumption is highly recommended for children's nutrition, the safety and quality of the product should always be checked to safeguard public health.
Histopathologies are widely recognized as biomarkers of environmental pollution. In this sense, we evaluated the putative relationship of gill histopathologies and distinct ecological impacts in two regions of Todos os Santos Bay (BTS), Brazil, the largest bay in Northeastern Brazil, South Atlantic. We compared the presence and concentration of metals (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in water, sediments, and gills and gill histopathologies of a demersal fish (Diapterus rhombeus) and a benthic fish (Ogcocephalus vespertilio). As expected, fish and sediment samples from historically contaminated areas (Aratu) showed more remarkable traces of metals than apparently low-impact areas (Jaguaripe). Likewise, the DTC (degree of tissue change) index and the volume densities were higher in fish caught in Aratu. In addition, the Diapterus rhombeus species showed more potential than Ogcocephalus vespertilio for risk assessment as it showed more responses to the environment reflected on more histopathologies. These data support the effectiveness of incorporating functional gill morphology to monitor impacts on estuarine biota that can be used as a reference to improve the management of ecosystems and prevent harm to human health.
There are many studies regarding stop the progression to type 2 diabetes (T2D) through dietary control but there is no global recommendation for a specific diet. The strongest evidence is weight control through nutritional education but it does not include elderly people because of the risk of malnutrition that would entail. Therefore, the search for specific foods that can help slow down the progress towards T2D are of great interest. Although the controversy between fish consumption and the risk of developing T2D, it has been observed that oily fish could play a protective role. This type of fish may contain large amounts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) but, on the contrary, contain omega-3 with effects on the cardiovascular system. In addition, the presence of taurine, a semi-essential amino acid very present in oily fish and which has been studied its antidiabetogenic effect, could play an essential role in the protective effect of this type of fish against T2D. Among them, the one with the highest concentrations of omega-3 and taurine as well as low concentration of POPs is sardine. An integrative review of observational studies and clinical trials was performed to investigate the association between sardine consumption and T2D prevention.
Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in fish is the result of long-term biomagnification in the food chain and is of public concern, due to the toxicity they engender. The objective of this research was to determine the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in 13 species of marine fish broadly commercialized in Aracaju, SE, Brazil and to evaluate the risks of fish consumption associated with these trace elements, using the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ). As, Cd, and Pb levels were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and mercury was analyzed via cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicate a large variability in concentrations for arsenic (0.07–2.03 mg kg–1) and mercury (0.01–1.44 mg kg–1), associated with the animal dietary category. Cadmium (0.04–0.19 mg kg–1) and lead (<0.01–0.45 mg kg–1), on the other hand showed a mild variability. None of the evaluated specimens had As, Cd, and Pb THQ values higher than 1. The THQ values for mercury were higher but indicated no consumption risk, except for amberjack, and snook fish. Overall THQ indicates lower risk of consumption in fish that are at the base of the food chain, than in those that are top predators.
Edible 12 marine species (pelagic fish, demersal fish and shellfish) caught from the Marmara Sea, Black Sea and Aegean Sea. Samples were analysed for content in total mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). In this study, the metal concentrations of samples and health risks in human were determined by the estimated weekly intake (EWI), hazard index (HI) and target hazard quotients (THQs). The levels of total mercury, cadmium and lead were present in bluefish, sardine, sole higher than maximum levels proposed by European legislation. EWI, HI and THQs through this fish and shellfish consumption were in tolerable limits for both female and male consumer. In contrast, total target hazard quotients (TTHQs) values of female consumers in the 15–24 age range due to consumption of certain pelagic fish species indicated that human health risk might be of concern.
Todos os Santos (All Saints) Bay area, NE-Brazil, is known for one of the most important cases of urban lead (Pb) contamination in the world. The main objective of this work was to assess and interpret the spatial distribution of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn in "background" soils of this environmentally impacted bay area, using a combination of geostatistical and multivariate analytical methods to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources of those metal(oid)s in soils. We collected 114 topsoil samples (0.0-0.2 m depth) from 38 sites. The median values for trace metal concentrations in soils (mg kg(-1)) followed the order Pb (33.9) > Zn (8.8) > As (1.2) > Cd (0.2) > Hg (0.07), clearly reflecting a Pb-contamination issue. Principal component analysis linked Cd, Pb, and Zn to the same factor (F1), chiefly corroborating their anthropogenic origin; yet, both Pb and Zn are also influenced by natural lithogenic sources. Arsenic and Hg concentrations (F2) are likely related to the natural component alone; their parent material (igneous-metamorphic rocks) seemingly confirm this hypothesis. The heterogeneity of sources and the complexity of the spatial distribution of metals in large areas such as the Todos os Santos Bay warrant, the importance of multivariate and geostatistical analyses in the interpretation of environmental data.
The total heavy metal [chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb)] presence in muscle tissue of sardine were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) after microwave wet digestion during winter season in 2010. The mean concentrations of the heavy metals in sardine muscle tissues were 0.21 mg Cr/kg, 1.00 mg Cu/kg, 1.49 mg As/ kg, 0.46 mg Cd/kg, 0.03 mg Hg/kg, and 0.14 mg Pb/kg wet weight. It was found that cadmium concentrations in sardine fish samples provided from four fish markets except one fish market, exceeded the value of 0.05 mg Cd/kg (wet weight) limit which was permitted nationally and internationally. Level of arsenic for one of each group of sardine sample was higher than permitted limit of arsenic according to the Australia Food Standard (1.00 mg As/kg). As a result, comprehensive and periodically controls of heavy metals in fish are important in terms of public and environmental health.
Method validation is one of the measures universally recognized as a necessary part of a comprehensive system of quality assurance in analytical chemistry. In the past, ISO, IUPAC, and AOAC International have cooperated to produce agreed protocols or guidelines on the "Design, conduct and interpretation of method performance studies" [1], on the "Proficiency testing of (chemical) analytical laboratories" [2], on "Internal quality control in analytical chemistry laboratories" [3], and on "The use of recovery information in analytical measurement" [4]. The Working Group that produced these protocols/guidelines has now been mandated by IUPAC to prepare guidelines on the single-laboratory validation of methods of analysis. These guidelines provide minimum recommendations on procedures that should be employed to ensure adequate validation of analytical methods.
A draft of the guidelines has been discussed at an International Symposium on the Harmonization of Quality Assurance Systems in Chemical Laboratory, the proceedings from which have been published by the UK Royal Society of Chemistry.
Although fish intake has potential health benefits, the presence of metal contamination in seafood has raised public health concerns. In this study, levels of mercury, cadmium, lead, tin and arsenic have been determined in fresh, canned and frozen fish and shellfish products and compared with the maximum levels currently in force. In a further step, potential human health risks for the consumers were assessed. A total of 485 samples of the 43 most frequently consumed fish and shellfish species in Andalusia (Southern Spain) were analyzed for their toxic elements content. High mercury concentrations were found in some predatory species (blue shark, cat shark, swordfish and tuna), although they were below the regulatory maximum levels. In the case of cadmium, bivalve mollusks such as canned clams and mussels presented higher concentrations than fish, but almost none of the samples analyzed exceeded the maximum levels. Lead concentrations were almost negligible with the exception of frozen common sole, which showed median levels above the legal limit. Tin levels in canned products were far below the maximum regulatory limit, indicating that no significant tin was transferred from the can. Arsenic concentrations were higher in crustaceans such as fresh and frozen shrimps. The risk assessment performed indicated that fish and shellfish products were safe for the average consumer, although a potential risk cannot be dismissed for regular or excessive consumers of particular fish species, such as tuna, swordfish, blue shark and cat shark (for mercury) and common sole (for lead).
The concentrations of mercury and 13 other trace metals in 104 canned fish samples purchased within the states of Georgia and Alabama (United States of America) were determined using the direct mercury analyzer (DMA) and the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The ranges obtained for the elements analyzed in mg/kg (wet weight) are as follows: Hg (0.02–0.74), Ag (0.0–0.20), As (0.0–1.72), Cd (0.0–0.05), Cr (0.0–0.30), Fe (0.01–88.4), Pb (0.0–0.03), Mn (0.01–2.55), Ni (0.0–0.78), Co (0.0–0.10), Cu (0.01–5.33), Sn (0.04–28.7), V (0.0–0.31) and Zn (0.14–97.8). Three tuna samples had Hg level above the European dietary limit of 0.5 mg Hg/kg. The mean Hg concentrations in the tuna (285 μg/kg) and sardine (107 μg/kg) brands were higher than the averages posted by the pink salmon (36.1 μg/kg), red salmon (32.8 μg/kg) and mackerel (36.4 μg/kg) brands. Two tuna samples and a sardine sample exceeded the Australian permissible limit of 1 μg/g inorganic arsenic (wet weight). Two samples (brand 15: herring) had zinc levels exceeding the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommended limit of 40 mg/kg and two pink salmons also exceeded the Brazilian regulatory limit of 0.1 mg Cr/kg. One tuna sample had a cadmium level slightly exceeding the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants draft guideline of 0.50 mg Cd/kg. However, the concentrations of lead, cadmium and copper were below the corresponding MAFF guidelines of 2.0, 1.0 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. Also, based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) health criteria for carcinogens, there are no health risks with respect to Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn concentrations in canned fishes analyzed. The result of the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted on the data suggested that significant variations (P<0.05) existed in the concentrations of Hg, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Sn, V, and Zn across the various fish species and canned fish brands analyzed. The estimated weekly intakes of Hg, As, Cd, Pb, Sn, Fe, Cu and Zn for a 60 kg adult consuming 350 g of fish/week were below the respective provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWI) in μg/kg body weight for: Hg: 5; As: 15; Cd: 7; Pb: 25; Sn: 14000; Fe: 5600; Cu: 3500; and Zn: 7000.
The marine ecosystems of Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, The State of Bahia, Brazil) have been impacted by the presence on its coast of a large metropolitan area as well as of chemical and petrochemical activities. Despite its ecological importance, there is a lack of scientific information concerning metal contamination in TSB marine biota. Thus, we analyzed concentrations of metals in four species of marine benthic organisms (two seaweeds, Padina gymnospora and Sargassum sp. one seagrass, Halodule wrightii and one oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae) in three sites from the TSB region that have been most affected by industrial activities. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophometry. The obtained data indicates that cadmium and copper in seaweeds, oysters and seagrass, as well as Ni concentrations in oysters, were in range of contaminated coastal areas. Cadmium and copper are available to organisms through suspended particles, dissolved fraction of water column and bottom sediment interstitial water. As oysters and other mollusks are used as food sources by the local population, the metal levels found in oysters in TSB may constitute a health risk for this population. Our results suggest implanting a heavy metals biomonitoring program in the TSB marine ecosystems.
In recent years, human health risk indices in the toxicological assessment of foods have been widely used, considering that they can establish reports with analytical and legal security when well applied. These indices are classified as singles and integrated, being that the singles are Estimated Weekly Intakes (EWI), Estimated Daily Intakes (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Maximum Safe Consuming Quantity (MSCQ), and Target Carcinogenic Risk (TCR). The integrated indices are Hazard Index (HI)-THQ and Hazard Index (HI)-TCR, which come from the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Target Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) indices, respectively. In a didactic way, these indices are presented using works reported in the literature involving plant, animal, and industrial food matrices.
Histamine is a biogenic amine that is contained in various food, especially fish and fish products. The freshness of the fish can be identified by the concentration of the histamine. Due to its toxicity, the determination of histamine in fish and fish products are widely studied using numerous analytical instruments. Recently, there has been a strong research interest in the development and validation of an ideal instrument for quantitative determination of histamine in fish and fish products. Hence, this review provides an overview on the development of instruments such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorometry for histamine detection. The sample preparation procedures are briefly discussed in this review. The future prospects to develop a promising potential instrument for the quantitative determination of histamine in fish and fish products are identified.
Concentrations of Cd, Ni, and Pb were measured in the liver and muscle tissues of benthic omnivorous (Barbus grypus) and pelagic herbivorous (Tenualosa ilisha) fish collected from two sampling sites along the Karoon River, Khuzestan Province, southwest of Iran. Potential human health risks were evaluated by measuring the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and target cancer risk (TR). The results highlight the important role of habitat and feeding habits in the uptake of HMs by the two species. The EDI for all HMs exceeded the oral reference doses (RfDo) provided by the USEPA, indicating the two fish species are not entirely safe for human consumption. The THQ values were within the permissible limit (< 1), while HI values (> 1) showed there was non-carcinogenic risk for consumers. The TR values for Pb were within the acceptable range (1.00E-06-1.00E-04) for both species.
The levels of heavy metals and possible health risks in water and crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) were assessed from two coal mining subsidence pools and a reference pool in the Huaibei coal mining region. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb in subsidence pools were the highest, 8.71, 110.06, 13.85, 48.36, 22.19, and 38.76 ug L⁻¹, respectively. Compared with water quality standards, some metals in subsidence pools were higher than the standard limits. Correlation analysis indicated that all metals were related to coal mining activities except for Mn. The average concentrations of metals in crucian carp from the study area followed the order: Mn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd. Heavy metals in fish showed the order of viscera > gill > muscle (except for Cu in crucian carp in the reference pool). The levels of Cd and Pb in the muscle of crucian carp in subsidence pools exceeded the standard limits. The mean bioaccumulation factor of the metals showed that Cu, Mn, and Ni in the water could accumulate in the fish. The target hazard quotient results indicated that consumption of crucian carp from subsidence pools by children and adults may result in significant non-carcinogenic health risks. These results showed that water pollution due to coal mining activities may lead to fish contamination and ultimately endanger human health.
Five wild edible mushroom species, namely, Macrolepiota mastoidea, Macrolepiota konradii, Macrolepiota procera, Suillus collinitus and Cuphophyllus pratensis, were studied for their trace element contents by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The potential health risk assessments of children and adults were evaluated by the weekly intake (EWI), target hazard quotients (THQ), hazard index (HI) and cancer risk (CR). None of the analyzed elements exceeded the THQ value more than 1, but the HI values indicated that M. mastoidea and S. collinitus may be dangerous to children’s health. The values of CR for As and Cd for children in all mushroom species were above 1 × 10⁻⁴ suggesting that there was a potential health risk. The CR values for adults suggest that all mushrooms may pose a threat to human health related to Cd.
Arsenic speciation analysis was conducted on in oil and in brine canned solid tuna samples using ionic chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS). First, the method was optimized and validated. The extraction of water-soluble arsenic species (arsenobetaine (AsB), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), As (III), and As (V)) was performed with (NH4)2CO3 at pH 10.5. The presence of the sample matrix showed no effect on the selectivity of the method by a t-test (p<0.05) and an external calibration method was applied. The limits of quantification for the five arsenic species were 0.59 mg kg⁻¹ (AsB), 0.10 mg kg⁻¹ (DMA), 0.12 mg kg⁻¹ (As (III)), 0.07 mg kg⁻¹ (MMA) and 0.10 mg kg⁻¹ (As (V)). Method accuracy was tested through the analysis of the reference material BCR-627 (tuna fish muscle tissue) and a good agreement was obtained. Total arsenic in the solid canned tuna ranged from 2.65-5.81 mg kg⁻¹ in-oil samples and from 2.74-5.70 mg kg⁻¹ in the in-brine samples, levels higher than the limits established by the Brazilian sanitary standards. However, the speciation showed that the major species is the non-toxic arsenobetaine.
Although the Kızılırmak River, the longest river in Turkey, is home to many fish species, there are a few studies reporting metal levels in fish in the river. The contents of 17 metals and elements (MEs) in various tissues of three fish species and surface water from the river were investigated. Significant differences in the ME levels among tissues were recorded, and the highest levels of most MEs were recorded in the gills and liver. The results revealed that correlations between MEs in tissues and fish size were not clear and consistent. Among the MEs, P (6058–109489) and Zn (933–47556) had the highest bioconcentration factor values. The levels of As and Cd in the river water exceeded water quality criteria. Health risk assessment methods (Target Hazard Quotient, Estimated Daily Intake and Lifetime Carcinogenic Risk) indicated that consumption of the studied fish species is safe. It was estimated that a weekly consumption of 490 g of C. gibelio, or 350 g of C. carpio or 280 g of T. tinca would not cause any health risks. Furthermore, it was found that fish species would provide significant benefits in terms of intake of nutrients such as P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn. These findings revealed that nutritional benefits from consumption of fish species outweigh the health risks posed by metals in fish.
The distribution of 18 toxic and essential elements (TEEs) (Sr, As, Ba, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ca, Cd, K, Co, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Cr and Zn) was investigated in tissues/organs of three fish species showing similar feeding habits from the Tigris River. The findings revealed that concentrations of TEEs in fish depend on the species. The highest contents of most TEEs were recorded in the gills followed by the liver, skin and muscle. Generally, inverse relationships were recorded between fish size and TEEs in tissues of fish species which may be explained by the lower metabolic rate and dilution effect of higher lipid content in the bigger fish. The average contents of Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and inorganic As in muscle tissues of fish species were below the permissible limits. The estimated daily intakes of Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr, Zn, inorganic As, Cd, Co, Cr and Pb were much lower than the reference doses set by USEPA. The target hazard quotient and hazard index values were below 1, indicating that non-carcinogenic health effects are unlikely to occur. The carcinogenic risk values for inorganic As were below 10−6, indicating no carcinogenic health risks for consumers. It was found that daily consumption of 230 g of fish would not be expected to cause any health risks. In addition, it was found that fish species would provide great benefits considering intake of essential elements. These findings revealed that nutritional benefits from consumption of fish species outweighed the health risks posed by toxic elements in fish.
This work reports the determination of mercury in fish samples purchased at a public market in Belem City, Brazil. The mercury quantification was performed using the DMA method, which allows limits of detection and quantification of 0.004 and 0.012 ng, respectively. Method accuracy was confirmed using a certified reference material of fish protein from (NRCC) National Research Council, Canada. The analyzed species were: Dourada (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), Filhote (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum), Pescada Branca (Cynoscion leiarchus), Piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma vaillanti). The mercury contents expressed as wet sample weight varied from 0.078 to 0.150 μg g-1. Afterward, the health risk assessment indices Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Maximum Safe Consuming Quantity (MSCQ) were applied to the analytical data, and the results obtained were exhaustively interpreted and discussed. All the indices demonstrated that the daily consumption of 25 g of these fishes does not pose a risk to the human health of the local population. However, these conclusions are preliminary and should not be used in public policy matters.
It was aimed to determine the concentrations of several heavy metals in muscle tissues of 18 wild and 2 farmed fish species obtained from 6 stations and 3 different fish farms, which were between Hatay and Antalya provinces in the Northeast Mediterranean. The metal analysis of tissue samples was conducted using the Inductively-coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. Given all the tissue samples, the mean metal concentrations were found to be as follows; Li: <0.001 - 0.15 mg kg⁻¹ ww, Al: <0.0006 - 2.54 mg kg⁻¹ ww, Cr: <0.001 - 0.49 mg kg⁻¹ ww, Mn: <0.0002 - 1.05 mg kg⁻¹ ww, Fe: <0.001 - 0.02 mg kg⁻¹ ww, Cu: <0.006 – 1.30 mg kg⁻¹ ww, Zn: 1.76 - 15.4 mg kg⁻¹ ww, As: 0.52 - 35.1 mg kg⁻¹ ww, Sn: <0.0004 - 2.04 mg kg⁻¹ ww. Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb were found to be lower than the detectable limits in all tissue samples. For human consumption estimated weekly intakes (EWI), target hazard quotients (THQ), and cancer risk (CR) levels of the metals were determined in muscle tissues of the wild and farmed fish species. The mean EWI, THQ, and CR levels for As were found 34.82, 3.97E+00 ± 4.84E+00 and 1.06-03 ± 1.30E-03 for wild species while these values for farmed species were as follows; 2.46, 2.80E-01 ± 1.18E-01 and 7.49E-05 ± 3.15E-05 respectively. When compared to the wild species, metal levels were found to be very lower in farmed fishes and consuming these fishes was determined not to cause any health problems. For the wild samples, however, inorganic As concentrations were found to be risky from carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic aspects. Moreover, the mean metal concentrations in muscle tissues of fishes obtained from the Northeast Mediterranean were compared to the national/international codex limits and it was found that all the metal concentrations in tissue samples were lower than the upper limits set by Turkish Food Codex (TFC), European Union (EU), and World Health Organization (WHO).
The aim of the study was to assess arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) contamination of freshwater fish from Poland. Selected species of raw, smoked, and pickled freshwater fish (n=212) were evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Assessment of health risk associated with intake of investigated elements present in fish was performed. Contamination of fish with As, Cd, Hg and Pb ranged as follows: As 23.3–59,290.1 µg/kg, Cd 0.02–97.0 µg/kg, Hg 9.04–606.3 µg/kg, and Pb 0.04–171.4 µg/kg. Consumption of selected species of freshwater fish, especially smoked fish products, may pose a non-carcinogenic and also carcinogenic health risk.
As one of food sources, fish provides sufficient nutrition to human. Diverse nutrients in fish make fish an important nutrient source available easily across the globe. Fish is proven to possess several health benefits, such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, wound healing, neuroprotection, cardioprotection, and hepatoprotection properties. Fish proteins, such as immunoglobins, act as defense agents against viral and bacterial infections and prevent protein-calorie malnutrition. Besides, fish oil constituents, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), regulate various signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa B pathway, Toll-like receptor pathway, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway, and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor (PPAR) pathways. In this review, the literature about health benefits of fish consumption are accumulated from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the mechanistic action of health benefits are summarized. Fish consumption at least twice per week as part of a healthy diet is beneficial for a healthy heart. More advances in this field could pose fish as a major nutrients source of foods.
Here, we evaluated the levels of As, Hg, Pb, and Cd in shark meat sold along the Amazon Coast of Brazil and used nitrogen stable isotope values to determine trophic position and to assess element biomagnification. From market samples, a total of 13 species were identified via molecular analysis, including those listed as endangered and vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Arsenic was present in significantly higher concentrations than all other elements, followed by Hg, with the highest mean concentrations recorded in M. higmani (As: 19.46 ± 8.79 μg/g ww) and C. acronotus (Hg: 1.12 ± 0.68 μg/g ww). Lead and Cd were recorded at much lower levels in all species. The EWI of individual elements were above PTWI for all species when considering Hg, seven species for inor- ganic arsenic (iAs), and one species for Pb. The weekly consumption of 10 species should be reduced to less than 416.39 g, which is equivalent to the daily estimated fish consumption rate in the region. The mean (±SD) δ15N values of species ranged from 10.7 ± 0.51‰ in M. higmani to 14.2 ± 0.59‰ in C. porosus, indicating feeding over >1 trophic level. Arsenic was negatively correlated with δ15N values, while Hg was positively correlated indicating biodilution and biomagnification, respectively. Our results indicate that the sale and consumption of shark meat will expose consumers to potentially harmful levels of iAs and Hg, as well as contributing to the pop- ulation decline of species including those that are currently categorized as threatened.
Arsenic (As) is a major hazardous element in natural environments, and arsenic pollution is becoming an issue of concern worldwide. The more toxic inorganic arsenic, such as trivalent arsenite As(Ⅲ) and pentavalent arsenate As(Ⅴ), which normally can transform to organic arsenic compounds, such as arsenobetaine (AsB), arsenocholine (AsC), monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA), dimethyl arsenic acid (DMA), trimethyl arsenic acid (TMA), arsenosugars and arsenolipids. In this study, a total of 2130 individuals of Chinese mitten crabs were collected from seven locations and mixed to 71 samples. Total arsenic and six major species (AsC, AsB, DMA, MMA, As (Ⅲ), and As (Ⅴ)) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS), respectively. The target hazard quotient (THQ) was utilized to evaluate the human health risk. The total arsenic concentration and totals for the six arsenic forms are 0.25–1.66 mg/kg and 0.05–1.19 mg/kg wet mass, respectively. Except for HH and LH, the six arsenic species concentrations accounted for more than 50.0 % of the total arsenic. The less toxic AsB is the most predominant in crabs, comprising 50.0 %–90.0 % of the sum of six types of arsenic. The more toxic inorganic arsenic only range from 0.01 to 0.21 mg/kg wet mass, much less than the limit content of 0.50 mg/kg inorganic As in crustacea. The THQ values of inorganic arsenic through the consumption of Chinese mitten crabs are estimated, and the values are all less than 1, indicating that intaking Chinese mitten crabs collected from China will not cause an appreciable hazard risk to human health.
A method for simultaneous analysis of common oxo-arsenic species and their thio-analogues by coupling ion-pair liquid chromatography to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed and validated. The chromatographic separation was performed using a C8 stationary phase and a mobile phase containing 1.2 mmol/L tetramethylammonium hydroxide, 4 mmol/L malonic acid, 6.2 mmol/L sodium butane-1-sulfonate, and 0.05% (v/v) methanol. Under these conditions, the 11 arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, dimethylarsinic acid, monomethylarsonic acid, arsenobetaine, arsenocholine, tetramethylarsonium cation, trimethylarsine oxide, dimethyldithioarsinic acid, monomethylmonothioarsinic acid, and trimethyarsine sulfide) were separated. The detection limits for these species ranged from 1.4 to 4.0 ng/g As. The method was applied to the analysis of fish, crustacean, mussel, cephalopod and mushroom samples. Thio-arsenic species DMDTAV were found in mussel Mytilus chilensis and cuttlefish Sepis pharaonis samples in very low contents of 23 and 21 ng/g As, respectively. All seafood samples contained predominantly arsenobetaine (330–8570 ng/g As); other As species were present at various contents from 7 to 325 ng/g As.
Macroelement (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) and toxic trace element (As, Cd and Pb) contents were investigated in muscle and liver of the two fish species (common carp and trout barb) from the largest three reservoirs (Atatürk, Keban and Karakaya) in Turkey. Also, human health risks for consumers using the worst-case scenarios were assessed. Potassium was the most abundant macroelement in muscle of both fish species in all reservoirs, whereas phosphorus was the most abundant in liver. Toxic trace element contents in the liver of the two fish species from the three reservoirs were higher than those in muscle. The mean levels of As and Pb in muscle and liver of fish species from the Karakaya Reservoir were higher than those from the other two reservoirs. Three-way ANOVA showed that the interaction between fish species, reservoir and fish tissue was significant for only Cd (p < 0.01). The maximum levels of As, Cd and Pb in muscle and liver of fish species from the three reservoirs were below permissible limits. The estimated daily intakes of toxic trace elements in fish species were much lower than their corresponding tolerable daily intakes. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and total THQ values in fish species were below 1, which indicated that non-carcinogenic health effects are not expected. The carcinogenic risk values for inorganic arsenic were within acceptable range. The results revealed that toxic trace elements in common carp and trout barb from the Atatürk, Keban and Karakaya reservoirs do not pose a significant health risk to consumers.
The aim of this research was to determine total mercury (Hg) content in 69 canned tuna of 13 brands marketed in southwest Brazil. All values are reported in μg.g⁻¹ wet weight basis. Potential health risk was estimated on the basis of mercury concentration and average consumption (175 g/per week) of fish in Brazil comparing to PTWI of 1.6 μg.kg⁻¹ (FAO/WHO, 2010). A large variation in the concentration of mercury in different species was observed. Mean mercury concentration was 0.256 ± 0.215 μg.g⁻¹ with a highest value of 1.060 μg.g⁻¹ in a single can. In general average concentration was below the legislation of 1.0 μg.g⁻¹ for predatory species (BRASIL, 2010). Estimate weekly intake (EWI) varied 0.2–1.7 μg.kg⁻¹. For the analyzed brands and Brazilian fish consumption, no human health risk is likely to occur. However one brand was higher than PTWI of 1.6 μg.kg⁻¹ showing no safety for specific risk group. Further studies including specific data on canned tuna consumption in specific populations will be needed as well as the fish type, fish size and fishing location.
In this study, the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) have been determined in the flesh of two species of fish, sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fished in the Algerian coast. Quantification of As, Cd and Pb was carried out using an ICP-MS method and the results were compared with the thresholds set by national and international regulatory bodies. In a further step, the risk to consumers was assessed using estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI).The average concentration of As and Pb was higher in sardine (1.82; 0.10 mg kg −1 w.w., respectively), than in swordfish (1.10 mg kg −1 w.w.; not determined), whereas the concentration recorded for Cd was the same for both species (0.01 mg kg −1 w.w.). These concentrations are below maximum limits set in regulations. The THQs and HI were widely below 1. The consumption of these fish does not pose risk to the consumers. ARTICLE HISTORY
In this paper, an on-line preconcentration system has been proposed for speciation analysis of inorganic arsenic in seawater. It is based on the selective reaction of As(III) with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) followed by sorption of the formed complex under a minicolumn containing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Afterward, arsenic sorbed has been eluted using a 2 mol L⁻¹ hydrochloric acid solution. The preconcentration system was optimized employing multivariate techniques. A two-level full factorial design and a Doehlert matrix were performed to determining the critical conditions of the factors: the acidity of the sample, APDC concentration, and sample flow rate. So, the procedure using the optimized conditions allows the determination of As(III) with limits of detection and quantification of 0.02 and 0.07 μg L⁻¹. Total arsenic has been determined after reduction of As(V) using thiourea in acid media and the limits achieved were 0.03 and 0.09 μg L⁻¹, for detection and quantification, respectively. The precision estimated as the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 5.3%, which was calculated using seven replicates of As(III) solution with a concentration of 0.50 μg L⁻¹. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by the analysis of the certified reference material CASS-4 seawater furnished by the National Research Council of Canada-NRCC. The system proposed was employed for speciation analysis of arsenic in five seawater samples collected from Todos os Santos Bay, Salvador, Brazil. The As(III) contents obtained varied from 0.09 to 0.51 and the total arsenic contents varied from 0.20 to 0.66 μg L⁻¹. The results are in agreement with other data reported in the literature.
Human consumption of fish protein, including canned tuna fish, is increasing steadily worldwide. However, there are some concerns about the potential exposure to elevated concentrations of metals in canned tuna fish. Several studies have been conducted in Iran regarding the concentration of metals in seafood, including copper (Cu), selenium (Se), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), and cadmium (Cd) in canned tuna fish. The main aim of this study was to gather data from existing papers and to perform a meta-analysis of the pooled concentrations of metals to evaluate their non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks in children and adults consumers. Search was conducted retrieving data from the international biomedical databases with highly public access and consultation, e.g., Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus, and national database (SID and Irandoc) between 1983 and November of 2017. Data from 23 articles and 1295 samples were assessed and extracted. The ranking order of metals based on mean concentrations (μg/g wet weight) were Fe (13.17) > Zn (9.31) > Se (2.23) > Al (1.8) > Cr (1.63) > Cu (1.52) > As (0.38) > Ni (0.33) > Pb (0.24) > Cd (0.14) > Hg (0.11) > Sn (0.1). Except for Cd and Se, concentrations of other metals in the canned tuna fish were lower than the limits recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Iran National Standards Organization (INSO). The minimum and maximum target hazard quotient (THQ) for adults were 5.55E-5 for Al and 2.23E-08 for Cr. For children, they were 7.23E-05 for Al and 2.91E-08 for Cr. THQ, and total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) were ≤1.0 for adult and children consumers. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) of As was 3.21E-5 in adults and 4.18E-5 in children. Adults and children that consume canned tuna fish in Iran are not at non-carcinogenic risk but have a carcinogenic risk due to As.
A total of 138 samples of canned tuna, sardines and mackerel from the Serbian market were analyzed for toxic (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) element levels using ICP–MS. The highest average contents of toxic elements were found to be 1.70 mg kg⁻¹ for arsenic and 0.026 mg kg⁻¹ for cadmium in sardine and 0.068 mg kg⁻¹ for mercury in tuna. The lead content was very similar (∼0.048 mg kg⁻¹) of the three types of canned fish. None of the fish analyzed contained toxic elements in levels exceeding the maximum allowable levels currently in force. Human health risk assessment of As, Cd, Pb and Hg in canned fish were investigated. A risk assessment based on the measured levels of examined elements indicated that consumption of canned fish according to current eating habits in Serbia presents little risk to human health since the carcinogenic risk is within the acceptable range, 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁶.
The aim of this study was to determine the level of heavy metals and PAHs in 57 samples of canned tuna, 25 samples of canned sardines and 16 samples of canned smoked sprouts, collected from supermarkets in Serbia. Heavy metal levels (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, iron, copper and zinc) were determined using an ICP-MS method. Sixteen analyzed PAHs were determined using a GC-MS method. The trace elements in canned fish were in the range (mg kg(-1)) of 0.01-0.28 for lead, 0.003-0.08 for cadmium, 0.007-0.64 for mercury, 0.17-3.73 for arsenic, 3.88-52.2 for iron, 0.2-5.95 for copper and 1.35-44.5 for zinc. Total PAH levels reached 17.67 µg kg(-1) in canned tuna, 15.12 µg kg(-1) in sardines, whereas in smoked sprouts it amounted to 57.19 µg kg(-1). Some of the samples contained cadmium, arsenic, copper and benzo(a)pyren above the limits as set by the European and Serbian legislation.
Arsenic speciation analysis was conducted on fish samples (sardine and anchovy) collected from six areas along the Greek coastline, i.e. Artemisium Straits, Thermaikos Gulf, Amvrakikos Gulf, Strymonian Gulf, Thracian Sea, and Elefsina Gulf. Total arsenic levels ranging from 11.8 to 62.6 mg/(As·kg) dry weight were determined. Arsenobetaine, a non-toxic form of arsenic, was found to be the main arsenic species, present at 8.6 to 58.8 mg/(As·kg), accounting for 67–95% of the total arsenic. Also detected in all fish samples was dimethylarsinic acid, although at considerably lower concentrations, ranging from 0.072–0.956 mg/(As·kg). Monomethylarsonic acid was detected at low levels in all anchovy samples, and only in sardines from one area. Finally, inorganic arsenic in the form of arsenate was detected only in fish at one area, indicating the possible effect of an environmental parameter on its presence at detectable amounts. Statistical analysis revealed the environmental variables, such as salinity, total organic carbon and nitrogen, ammonium, phosphate, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen and pressure index, are potentially correlated to As species concentrations. Furthermore, based on factor analysis, the biological parameters, such as fish weight, lipids, protein and ash content, that are correlated to As species concentrations of fish were also identified. The interrelationship of arsenobetaine and dimethylarsinic acid concentrations within each fish species was evaluated.
Written by an internationally recognized group of editors and contributors, Handbook of Elemental Speciation, Volume 2 provides a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary presentation of the analytical techniques involved in speciation. Comprehensive coverage of key elements and compounds in situ Addresses the analysis and impact of these elements and compounds, e.g. arsenic, lead, copper, iron, halogens, etc., in food, the environment, clinical and occupational health Detailed methodology and data are reported, as well as regulatory limits Includes general introduction on the impact in these key areas.
Publisher Summary The chapter provides an overview of marine arsenic research and arsenic concentrations in the various marine compartments. General chemical and analytical characteristics of the arsenic compounds of significance in marine arsenic studies are mentioned in the chapter followed by an outline of their occurrence, distribution, and biotransformation in marine samples. Workers in the area have applied different scientific disciplines to advance various aspects of the problem over the years. For example, progress in biological and biochemical studies of the uptake of arsenic by algae was made following chemical studies identifying the natural arsenic constituents of algae. Subsequent chemical synthesis of the arsenic compounds enabled toxicological assessment and further biotransformation studies to be carried out. The presence of both arsenobetaine and arsenosugars in the one organism, particularly one from such an isolated and selfcontained environment, might be taken as support for the view that arsenosugars are serving as precursors to arsenobetaine.
The health risks due to metal exposure from consuming various fish and seafood species were assessed for the Catalan population living near the Ebro River (Spain). The concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, nickel, and lead were determined in samples of mussel, clam, hake, sole, cuttlefish, sardine, and anchovy randomly acquired in various localities of the zone under evaluation. In general terms, metal concentrations were similar or lower than the levels recently reported in the literature. The current dietary intake of metals is analogous to that recently estimated for the non-exposed population of Catalonia. Metal exposure through fish and seafood consumption would only mean a slight increase of noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for arsenic, whereas the remaining elements showed risk values below the corresponding threshold levels.
The major organic forms of arsenic in fresh marine fish such as haddock, halibut, cod, herring, mackeral, sole, lobster, scallops, and shrimp obtained throughout Canada were identified as arsenobetaine and, in shrimp only, arsenocholine. Freshwater fish including pike, bass, carp, pickerel, white fish, yellow perch, and striped perch contained no arsenobetaine or arsenocholine but did contain methanol-extractable arsenic, which has not yet been identified. Salmon obtained from British Columbia contained arsenobetaine and an unknown arsenic compounds that eluted later from the reversed-phase HPLC system employed. The arsenobetaine levels for marine fish ranged from 0.15 to 15.8 ..mu..g/g of fresh weight. The sample extraction included freeze drying the tissue and then Soxhlet extracting with choloroform (which was discarded) and then with methanol. The methanolic extract containing the organoarsenic compounds was purified by alumina and ion-exchange chromatography then subjected to reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with off-line graphite furnace atomic absorption detection. The compounds were confirmed by mass spectrometry using fast atom bombardment. Arsenobetaine was also confirmed by derivatization to the ethyl ester with further characterization by HPLC and mass spectrometry.
Three commonly consumed and commercially valuable fish species (sardine, chub and horse mackerel) were collected from the Northeast and Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean in Portuguese waters during one year. Mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic amounts were determined in muscles using graphite furnace and cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. Maximum mean levels of mercury (0.1715 ± 0.0857 mg/kg, ww) and arsenic (1.139 ± 0.350 mg/kg, ww) were detected in horse mackerel. The higher mean amounts of cadmium (0.0084 ± 0.0036 mg/kg, ww) and lead (0.0379 ± 0.0303 mg/kg, ww) were determined in chub mackerel and in sardine, respectively. Intra- and inter-specific variability of metals bioaccumulation was statistically assessed and species and length revealed to be the major influencing biometric factors, in particular for mercury and arsenic. Muscles present metal concentrations below the tolerable limits considered by European Commission Regulation and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO). However, estimation of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks by the target hazard quotient and target carcinogenic risk, established by the US Environmental Protection Agency, suggests that these species must be eaten in moderation due to possible hazard and carcinogenic risks derived from arsenic (in all analyzed species) and mercury ingestion (in horse and chub mackerel species).
Seventeen samples of canned sardines, originating from six countries and sold in eastern Kentucky, USA, were analyzed in composites of 3-4 fish each for total arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and for mercury (Hg) by thermal decomposition amalgamation and AAS. Results in μg/g wet: As 0.49-1.87 (mean: 1.06), Cd<0.01-0.07 (0.03), Pb<0.06-0.27 (0.11), Hg ND <0.09. Values fall generally within readings reported by others, but no internationally agreed upon guidelines have yet been set for As or Cd in canned or fresh fish. The incidence of cancers and cardiovascular diseases associated with As ingestion is extraordinarily high here. With the role of food-borne As in human illness presently under scrutiny and its maximum allowable limits in fish being reviewed, more studies of this nature are recommended, especially considering the potential importance of small pelagic fishes as future seafood of choice.
The spatial distribution of As (total As, As (III) and As (V)) in estuarine sediments from the main tributaries of Todos os Santos Bay, BA, Brazil, was evaluated under high and low flow conditions. The concentrations of As were determined using a slurry sampling procedure with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS). The highest concentrations were observed at estuary mouths, and exceeded conservative lower threshold value (Threshold Effects Level; TEL). Due to the oxic conditions and abundance of Mn and Fe (oxyhydr)oxides in the sediments, most inorganic arsenic in the Subaé and Paraguaçu estuaries was present as As (V). Nevertheless, the concentration of As (III) at several locations along the Jaguaripe River were also above the TEL value, suggesting that As may be toxic to biota. In the Subaé estuary, antropogenic activities are the main source of As. At the Jaguaripe and at Paraguaçu estuaries, nevertheless, natural sources of As need to be considered to explain the distribution patterns.
Impact of Seasonality on Copper Bioavailaility to Crabs (Ucides cordatus, Linnaeus, 1763) in Mangrove Soils of Todos os Santos Bay (Bahia, North Eastern Brazil)
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Determination of moisture in fish muscles using a domestic microwave oven
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