Mercury accumulation in marine fish most favoured by Malaysian women, the predictors and the potential health risk

Abstract

We identified marine fish species most preferred by women at reproductive age in Selangor, Malaysia, mercury concentrations in the fish muscles, factors predicting mercury accumulation and the potential health risk. Nineteen most preferred marine fish species were purchased (n = 175) from selected fisherman's and wholesale market. Length, weight, habitat, feeding habit and trophic level were recognised. Edible muscles were filleted, dried at 80 °C, ground on an agate mortar and digested in Multiwave 3000 using HNO and HO. Total mercury was quantified using VP90 cold vapour system with N carrier gas. Certified reference material DORM-4 was used to validate the results. Fish species were classified as demersal (7) and pelagic (12) or predators (11), zoo benthos (6) and planktivorous (2). Length, weight and trophic level ranged from 10.5 to 75.0 cm, 0.01 to 2.50 kg and 2.5 to 4.5, respectively. Geometric mean of total mercury ranged from 0.21 to 0.50 mg/kg; maximum in golden snapper (0.90 mg/kg). Only 9 % of the samples exceeded the JECFA recommendation. Multiple linear regression found demersal, high trophic (≥4.0) and heavier fishes to accumulate more mercury in muscles (R = 27.3 %), controlling for all other factors. About 47 % of the fish samples contributed to mercury intake above the provisional tolerable level (45 μg/day). While only a small portion exceeded the JECFA fish Hg guideline, the concentration reported may be alarming for heavy consumers. Attention should be given in risk management to avoid demersal and high trophic fish, predominantly heavier ones.

Mercury Hair Concentration among Primary School Children in Malaysia

“…Moreover, studies have shown that oily fish—which contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acid—have a beneficial intelligence effect, while lean fish, which usually contain a higher mercury level, evoked an adverse intelligence effect [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. On the other hand, local studies suggested that predatory fish from the demersal zone and higher marine trophic level induced a greater mercury burden [ 5 , 29 ]. This is to be expected since bioaccumulation of mercury concentrations in fish would have happened at higher trophic levels [ 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”

“…In recent years, scientists have come to the conclusion that ingestion of one to two meals a week of fish may increase the mercury burden on the body, which will lead to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) reference dose (0.1 µg/kg per day) being exceeded [ 4 ]. However, the risk of increased mercury levels depends on several criteria, including fish types and their contamination level, as well as frequency of consumption and serving size [ 5 ]. With the right number of doses, methylmercury, which has been viewed as a neurotoxicant agent, may have adverse health effects on the fetus and young children.…”

Heavy metal contamination in processed seafood and the associated health risk for Malaysian women

“…The processing of samples was done according to Jeevanaraj et al (2016b). The sample flesh was ground in food processor.…”

“…Metals are mainly taken up by fish and other aquatic organism from water, food, sediment and other species of lower trophic (Ababneh and Al-Momani, 2013; Jeevanaraj et al , 2019). Fishes of higher trophic level such as shark, swordfish and tuna may accumulate considerable amounts of toxic elements through bioaccumulation along the food web (Ababneh and Al-Momani, 2013; Jeevanaraj et al , 2016b). To make it worse, seafoods are subjected to further metal accumulation in the process of making seafood products, endangering the consumers (Russo et al , 2013; Anual et al , 2016).…”

“…Food items such as anchovies, keropok lekor and keropok ikan were the highest consumed processed seafood by Malaysian (Hajeb and Jinap, 2011) as these are made locally and can be obtained with a lower price. In recent years, many studies have been carried out on heavy metal contamination in fishes and the risk (Bashir et al ., 2012; Ahmad et al , 2015; Jeevanaraj et al , 2016b; Anual et al , 2018; Anandkumar et al ., 2018) but limited evidence available for processed fish products (Russo et al , 2013; Elias et al ., 2014). Especially, studies reported the human health risk from processed seafood consumption among Malaysians are scarce despite the food being an important commodity for sales and consumption.…”