Heavy metal content and molecular species identification in canned tuna: Insights into human food safety

Pappalardo, Andrea; Copat, Chiara; Ferrito, Venera; Grasso, Alfio Dario; Ferrante, Margherita

doi:10.3892/mmr.2017.6376

Cited by 41 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Similarly, Pb content was much higher in the blue mussel than in other analyzed species. Our results are in good agreement with other published data from the European market [15][16][17] . www.nature.com/scientificreports/ The target hazard quotient (THQ) is a ratio of the potential exposure to a contaminant and the acceptable level of the same contaminant at which no adverse effects are expected (see the "Risk assessment evaluation" for details on the calculation).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Heavy metals in commercial fish and seafood products and risk assessment in adult population in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Djedjibegović

Marjanović

Tahirović

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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This work investigates the level of exposure to cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) via fish and seafood products in adult population in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Metals content was determined in seven commercial species of fish and seafood products widely available and consumed in BiH. Analysis of Cd and Pb was performed by GFAAS (Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry), and analysis of Hg by FIAS AAS (flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry) in accredited laboratory for food analysis. The health risk was determined by the estimated weekly intake, hazard index, target hazard quotients, and percent of tolerable weekly intake or percent of benchmark dose lower confidence limit. Concentration above the maximum residue level (MRL) set in the European Union was found in only one sample (Hg in mackerel). Cd content was generally high in squid, approaching the corresponding MRL in two samples. The hazard index was close to 1 in bluefin tuna and mackerel, mostly due to Hg content. These two fish species should be consumed in moderation, especially by pregnant women. While consumption of various fish and seafood on average is not of significant concern, health risk could not be ruled out for high consumers. Fish is considered a significant part of a healthy, well-balanced diet due to its exceptional nutritional properties (high-quality proteins, vitamins, essential omega-3 fatty acids). Fish and seafood are unique dietary sources of cardioprotective docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) fatty acids. Thus, many public health authorities recommend regular fish consumption equivalent to at least 1-2 serving per week in order to prevent diet-related chronic diseases 1-3. Unfortunately, anthropogenic environmental impacts (industry, agriculture, mining) significantly increase the naturally occurring amounts of heavy metals in the environment, including the marine ecosystem. Consequently, marine organisms (fish, shellfish, crustaceans) can accumulate these metals to potentially toxic concentrations. Often, fish and other seafood represent one of the main sources of exposure to metals in the general population. Foods that contain toxic metals above the permitted levels are considered to be harmful to human health and are banned for trade by many national and international regulations. Maximum levels (MRL) of harmful substances in food in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are defined in the Regulation on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food 4. The same rules apply to food in the European Union 5-9. Some of the toxic effects of heavy metals include: impaired renal (Pb, Cd, Hg) and liver (Pb and Cd) function, decreased cognitive function (Pb, Hg), impaired reproductive capacity (Cd, Pb), hypertension (Cd), neurological changes (Hg, Pb), teratogenic effects (Hg), and cancers (Cd) 10-12. Our previous work showed that the content of heavy metals in certain samples of fish from the Neretva river (BiH) exceeds MRLs for some metals, and content found in many commercially available fi...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Heavy metals in commercial fish and seafood products and risk assessment in adult population in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Djedjibegović

Marjanović

Tahirović

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…This difference of HQ values is due to a large difference in fish consumption between Mexico and Italy. The average HQ value for Hg in canned tuna in this study was 0.0946 which is approximately three-fold lower than the HQ value reported by Pappalardo et al (34) (0.310). Generally, the HQ values for Cd, Pb and Cr were very low.…”

Section: Characterization Of Health Riskcontrasting

confidence: 79%

Health Risk Assessment of Some Heavy Metals from Canned Tuna and Fish in Tijuana, Mexico

et al. 2019

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Background: A main route of heavy metal exposure is the consumption of contaminated food or water, resulting in negative health effects. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the health risk related to consumption of canned tuna and fresh fish by evaluating chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) concentrations. Methods: Forty-eight samples of tuna canned in water and 20 samples of different fish species sold in the city of Tijuana were used. Samples were digested by microwave-assisted digestion. Mercury was measured using the cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) method (United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) method 7419b) and Pb, Cd, and Cr were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) (USEPA method 7010). Health risk assessment was conducted calculating the total hazard quotients (THQs) using the USEPA region III risk-based concentration table for adults. Results: The wet weight heavy metal concentrations in the canned tuna for Hg were 0.005 to 1.17 mg/kg, for Pb were 0.07 to 0.32 mg/kg, for Cd were from not detected (ND) to 0.007 mg/kg, and for Cr were 0.02 to 0.65 mg/kg. In the fresh fish samples, concentrations of Hg were 0.14 to 2.14 mg/kg, for Pb were 0.04 to 0.32 mg/kg, for Cd were 0.001 to 0.003 mg/kg, and for Cr were 0.07 to 0.38 mg/kg. The highest Hg concentrations were found in species of mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) and soupfin shark (Galeorhinus galeus). THQ values calculated were below one for all the samples. Conclusions: The results suggest that the consumption of canned tuna and fish in Tijuana does not represent a health risk for the general population in terms of exposure.

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“…Today the use of some of these metals is restricted, for example As, that is used as antimicrobial and plasticizer (Cordeiro et al, 2012). Thus, contamination of food sources, whether by naturally occurring or introduced toxins, is a concern for consumers due to the adverse health effects that have been associated with exposure to such compounds (Piazzolla et al, 2015; Scanu et al, 2016; Pappalardo et al, 2017; Ferrante et al, 2018a,b).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomarkers of Exposure to Chemical Contamination in the Commercial Fish Species Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788): A Particular Focus on Plastic Additives

et al. 2019

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In recent years, the Mediterranean Sea has become an accumulation zone for waste generated by the 22 countries bordering its shores. Although the effects of plastic litter on the marine environment and on organisms have recently been studied in other areas, further information is needed for the Mediterranean Sea and, in particular, about plastics additives inputs and interactions with the biota and the trophic network, such as phthalates and bisphenol A. Plastic material production, use and disposal contribute also to the release of heavy metals into the environment, such as mercury (Hg), often used during the production of chlorine, the primary ingredient in PVC, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), which are used as stabilizers in PVC and leach out of products during use and disposal. Our research aims to evaluate phthalates, bisphenol A and heavy metals contamination in Lepidopus caudatus (Pisces, Trichiuridae), which could be considered as a potential sentinel species. For the evaluation of toxicological effects, we evaluated the expression of vitellogenin and metallothioneins 1. In all samples analyzed, we have not found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract but chemical analysis revealed the presence of high content of phthalates, and in particular high quantities of DIDP, DEHP, bis-benzylester phthalate, bis-butyl ester phthalate and mono-N-butyl ester phthalate in different organs. Instead, trace elements detected in tissue revealed a trend of concentrations generally higher in liver and intestine than gill and muscle tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis for anti-metallothionein 1 antibody showed a strong positivity of liver cells, both in females and males. Analysis for the anti-vitellogenin antibody showed in females a strong positivity both in the liver cells and in the gonads, in male specimens was found to be always negative except for a specimen, in which it was highlighted a positivity in some areas of the liver and of the gonad.

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Heavy metal content and molecular species identification in canned tuna: Insights into human food safety

Cited by 41 publications

References 63 publications

Heavy metals in commercial fish and seafood products and risk assessment in adult population in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Heavy metals in commercial fish and seafood products and risk assessment in adult population in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Health Risk Assessment of Some Heavy Metals from Canned Tuna and Fish in Tijuana, Mexico

Biomarkers of Exposure to Chemical Contamination in the Commercial Fish Species Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788): A Particular Focus on Plastic Additives

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