Heavy Metals Contamination in Shellfish: Benefit-Risk Evaluation in Central Italy

Barchiesi, Francesca; Branciari, Raffaella; Latini, Mario; Roila, Rossana; Lediani, Giuseppe; Filippini, G.; Scortichini, Giampiero; Piersanti, Arianna; Rocchegiani, Elena

doi:10.3390/foods9111720

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…The benefit-risk quotient (BRQ) was applied to compare benefits and risks deriving from the simultaneous ingestion of omega- 3 fatty acids and contaminants through freshwater fish consumption, as reported in the literature (Geng et al ., 2015 ; Barchiesi et al ., 2020 ) ( Equation 3 ):…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Carassius auratus</i> as a bioindicator of the health status of Lake Trasimeno and risk assessment for consumers

et al. 2023

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Fish are good bio-indicators of the health status of the aquatic environment and can be used as biomarkers to assess the aquatic behavior of environmental pollutants, the exposure of aquatic organisms, and the health risk for consumers. Goldfish are a significant bioindicator in the Lake Trasimeno aquatic system (Umbria, Italy). This study aimed to characterize the health status and the chemical and biotic contamination of Lake Trasimeno to define its anthropogenic and natural pressures and the risk associated with consuming its fishery products. 114 determinations were performed on Carassius auratus samples from 2018 to 2020, and the occurrence of brominated flame retardants, non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, and microplastics was analytically investigated. Dietary exposure assessment, risk characterization, and benefit-risk evaluation were performed for schoolchildren from 3 to 10 years old. Flame-retardants registered high levels of non-detects (99% for polybrominated diphenyl ether and 76% for hexabromocyclododecanes), while polychlorinated biphenyls were found in all samples with a maximum level of 56.3 ng/g. Traces of at least one heavy metal were found in all samples, though always below the regulatory limit. Microplastics were found with a 75% frequency of fish ingesting at least one particle. Dietary exposure and risk characterization reveal negligible contributions to the reference values of all contaminants, except for mercury, which reached up to 25% of admissible daily intake. The benefit-risk assessment highlighted that the benefits of freshwater fish intake outweigh the associated risks. The examination of goldfish as indicator fish reveals the quality of Lake Trasimeno's aquatic environment and the safety of its products.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Carassius auratus</i> as a bioindicator of the health status of Lake Trasimeno and risk assessment for consumers

et al. 2023

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“…The benefit-risk quotient (BRQ) was applied to integrate benefit and risk assessment outcomes for the simultaneous ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids and contaminants through freshwater fish consumption, as reported in the literature [32,33]:…”

Section: Benefit-risk Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where BRQ values below 1 suggest that achieving the recommended intake of EPA + DHA poses no evident risk to human health linked to the intake of flame retardants through fish consumption [32,33].…”

Section: Benefit-risk Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Characterization and Benefit–Risk Assessment of Brominated Flame Retardant in Commercially Exploited Freshwater Fishes and Crayfish of Lake Trasimeno, Italy

Roila

Branciari

Stramenga

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Among brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) were the most widely used in past decades. BFRs not being chemically bonded to polymers means they can easily leach from the products into the environment and bioaccumulate. Humans are exposed to flame retardants mainly through food consumption, especially fish and fish products. In the present study, the occurrence of PBDEs and HBCDs in freshwater fishes and crayfish from Lake Trasimeno (Umbria region, central Italy) was assessed according to monitoring plans recommended by European competent authorities. The dietary exposure of the central Italian population to such molecules was calculated, and the risk characterization and the benefit–risk evaluation were also assessed. A total of 90 samples were analyzed by means of gas and liquid chromatography associated with triple quadrupole mass spectroscopy. A total of 51% of samples were found positive for at least one of the congeners; the most frequently found molecule was BDE-47. The data on dietary exposure ranged from 0.138 to 1.113 pg/kg body weight/day for ∑PBDE and from 0.805 to 0.868 pg/kg body weight/day for ∑HBCD. The data show no health risks for the central Italian population consuming freshwater fish products from Lake Trasimeno in relation to exposure to PBDE and HBCD.

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“…Several studies have been carried out trying to understand the variability of microbiological contamination [ 25 ], the risk of metals [ 26 , 27 ] and the impact of HABs on shellfish toxicity to shellfish consumers [ 9 , 28 ]. Notwithstanding, only a few assessed these hazards’ combined effect on managing bivalve-producing areas [ 29 , 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bivalve Shellfish Safety in Portugal: Variability of Faecal Levels, Metal Contaminants and Marine Biotoxins during the Last Decade (2011–2020)

Braga

Rodrigues²,

Lourenço³

et al. 2023

Toxins

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Bivalves are a high-value product whose production has markedly increased, reaching 9863 tonnes in Portugal in 2021. Bivalves’ habitats—lagoons, estuaries and coastal waters—are exposed to biological and anthropogenic contaminants, which can bioaccumulate in these organisms and pose a significant public health risk. The need to obtain a safe product for human consumption led to the implementation of standardised hygiene regulations for harvesting and marketing bivalve molluscs, resulting in routine monitoring of bivalve production areas for microbial quality, metal contaminants, and marine biotoxins. While excessive levels of biotoxins and metal contamination lead to temporary harvesting bans, high faecal contamination leads to area reclassification and impose post-harvest treatments. In this study, the seasonal and temporal variability of these parameters were analysed using historical data generated by the monitoring programme during the last decade. Moreover, the impact of the monitoring program on bivalve harvesting from 2011 to 2020 was assessed. This program presented a considerable improvement over time, with an increase in the sampling effort and the overall program representativeness. Finally, contamination risk, revising control measures, and defining recommendations for risk mitigation measures are given in the light of ten years’ monitoring.

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Heavy Metals Contamination in Shellfish: Benefit-Risk Evaluation in Central Italy

Cited by 18 publications

References 51 publications

<i>Carassius auratus</i> as a bioindicator of the health status of Lake Trasimeno and risk assessment for consumers

<i>Carassius auratus</i> as a bioindicator of the health status of Lake Trasimeno and risk assessment for consumers

Risk Characterization and Benefit–Risk Assessment of Brominated Flame Retardant in Commercially Exploited Freshwater Fishes and Crayfish of Lake Trasimeno, Italy

Bivalve Shellfish Safety in Portugal: Variability of Faecal Levels, Metal Contaminants and Marine Biotoxins during the Last Decade (2011–2020)

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