Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury in canned tuna fish marketed in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Fifty-four canned tuna fish samples corresponding to 10 widely used different brands were purchased from local markets in Tehran, Iran during 2012-2013 and analysed on heavy metals. Mercury was determined by a direct mercury analyser without any sample preparation. For analysis of other elements samples were digested using a microwave apparatus. Lead and cadmium were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and arsenic via hydride vapour generation. All samples had arsenic and mercury contamination. Arsenic levels showed a range of 0.25-1.42 mg kg(-1), which might be due to lack of national and international limits for arsenic in canned tuna fish. Lead and cadmium were measured in a small number of samples with a mean of 0.053 ± 0.058 mg kg(-1) and 0.013 ± 0.015 mg kg(-1), respectively. Results obtained for these heavy metals in all samples were lower than the corresponding limits, whereas arsenic and mercury contents might raise some attention.

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

“…K. pelamis was identified as the species with the highest Cd bioaccumulation values (p<0.01), with a mean value of 0.035 if compared with T. albacore where a mean value of 0.007 mg/kg was found. From a literature review, the concentrations of Cd we found, have comparable values to that of canned tuna distributed in other national and international markets (52)(53)(54)(55)(56).…”

“…Regarding to Pb, concentrations found are unexpectedly lower than literature finding related to canned tuna (52,(54)(55)(56)(57)(58). Pollution of Pb is an environmental and public health hazard for its persistence and toxicity.…”

Bioaccumulation Levels and Potential Health Risks of Mercury, Cadmium, and Lead in Albacore (Thunnus alalunga, Bonnaterre, 1788) from The Aegean Sea, Greece

“…Tuna fish, like other marine fish species, is very important in the human diet and represents the main source of protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), vitamins and a wide range of other important nutrients [7,8,9,10,11]. However, large predators, such as albacore tuna, are at the top of the aquatic food chain, and hence they can bioaccumulate large amounts of toxicants, such as the heavy metals mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) [12,13,14,15].…”

“…Individuals eating high quantities of tuna may have increased health risks such as developmental anomaly of the brain of infants and neurological problems in adults [22]. Cadmium may induce skeletal weakness, reproductive deficiencies, neurological and digestive disorders, cancers, mutations, and kidney dysfunction [7,23,24,25]. Lead is another known toxicant for human considered as a toxic element due to its biochemical effects which includes hypertension, hematological effects, neurological problems and renal dysfunction [23].…”

Determination of Iron and Chromium Levels in Canned Fish Produced in Factories of Khuzestan Province, Southwest of Iran

“…Among aquatic foods, fish are currently consumed, therefore, they are a connecting link for the transfer of toxic heavy metals in human beings [2,3]. Fish are ideal indicators of heavy metals contaminations in aquatic systems [4], because they are constantly exposed to alloys in polluted waters [1,5]and occupied different trophic levels [4]also may accumulate heavy metals, and represent one of the major sources of heavy metals for human [6,7].…”