Assessment of mercury content in Panga (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

Human health risk assessment based on a total diet study of daily mercury intake in Chengdu, China

To assess the total daily mercury intake and main exposure sources of residents, six food groups, including marine fish, freshwater fish, poultry, livestock, vegetables, and cereals, were collected from five districts of Chengdu, China. The median concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were 12.8 and 6.94 μg kg-1 ww, respectively. Cereals (32.2%), vegetables (30.5%), and livestock (16.2%) contributed to a much larger extent to the total consumption for the participants in Chengdu. All food categories that contributed the most of THg (2.16 μg day-1) and MeHg 1.44 (μg day-1) to the daily intake in Chengdu were cereals and marine fish, respectively. The total Hazard Ratios values below 1 in this study indicate that there is no health risk associated with Hg ingestion from the consumption of these foods for the residents in Chengdu.

Total mercury and fatty acids content in selected fish marketed in Quito - Ecuador. A benefit-risk assessment

Total mercury and fatty acids contents were determined in muscles of croaker, snapper, dolphinfish, blue marlin, and shark, from different markets in the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador. Fifty-five samples were collected and analyzed for total mercury using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and the fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. The lowest total mercury levels were found in snapper [0.041 µg·g^-1 wet weight (ww)] while blue marlin showed the highest (5.883 µg·g^-1 ww). EPA + DHA ranged from 1.0 mg·g^-1 in snapper to 2.4 mg·g^-1 in shark. A high omega-3/omega-6 ratio was found for all fish types; however, the HQ_EFA for the benefit-risk ratio was above 1, suggesting an evident risk to human health. Based on our results, consumption of croaker and dolphinfish is recommended up to one serving per week, considering the importance of EFAs intake and avoiding fish with elevated MeHg content. Therefore, Ecuadorian authorities could enhance public standards for seafood safety and develop consumer advice for pregnant women and young children to determine good fish choices or those to avoid.

Total Mercury and Fatty Acids in Selected Fish Species on the Polish Market: A Risk to Human Health

The muscles of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush Walbaum, 1792), crucian carp (Carassius carassius Linnaeus, 1758), flounder (Platichthys flesus Linnaeus, 1758), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758), mackerel (Scomber scombrus Linnaeus, 1758) and tench (Tinca tinca Linnaeus, 1758) were examined. The total mercury (THg) was processed using the Milestone DMA-80 and the fatty acids were analyzed using the 7890A Agilent Technologies chromatograph. The THg content in analyzed fish ranged from 0.024 (lake trout) to 0.092 mg/kg wet weight (gilthead seabream). The muscles of fish examined had lower amounts of SFAs, and n-3 and n-6 PUFAs than MUFAs. The ratio of n-3/n-6 was higher in muscles of mackerel than other fish (p < 0.05). Due to the fact that both the THQ and HI are below 1, the tested fish are safe for the consumer from a nutritional point of view. Similarly, fatty acid indices indicate the safe consumption of selected fish species, and the daily consumption of the recommended dose of EPA + DHA (250 mg/day) and the concentration of mercury in fish calculations showed a hazard quotient for the benefit−risk ratio HQEFA below 1, suggesting that the intake of EPA + DHA poses no evident risk to human health. The ratio was calculated for a person weighing 60 kg. Therefore, it is important to monitor the fish, not only bought in the store, but also caught in various aquatic environments.

Human Exposure to Potentially Toxic Elements from the Consumption of Soybean Beverages Commercialized in Spain

ABSTRACT

Plant-based beverages have been positioned as an alternative to cow's milk. Some of the most commonly consumed plant-based beverages are those made from soybeans. Soybean beverages can be an important source of essential elements. However, soybean plants can be exposed to high concentrations of contaminants, such as toxic metals, from the soil and the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs; Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, Mn, Mo, Zn, B, Ba, Ni, Li, Sr, V, Al, Cd, and Pb) to evaluate the human exposure and toxic risk from the consumption of these soybean beverages. Forty samples of various brands of soybean beverages were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The most abundant PTE was Al (3.93 mg/L), followed by Fe (1.91 mg/L) and Ba (0.69 mg/L). Based on a mean consumption of two servings of soybean beverage per day (250 mL per serving), this consumption results in a daily intake of Al and Pb that is significant but still below of the maximum recommended amount. However, higher consumption could exceed the maximum recommended Al and Pb values, with consequent risks to the human health.

HIGHLIGHTS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk, Family Income, and Fish Consumption Estimates of Mercury and Omega-3 PUFAs in the United States

Most amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are considered sporadic, without a known genetic basis, and lifestyle factors are suspected to play an etiologic role. We previously observed increased risk of ALS associated with high nail mercury levels as an exposure biomarker and thus hypothesized that mercury exposure via fish consumption patterns increases ALS risk. Lifestyle surveys were obtained from ALS patients (n = 165) and n = 330 age- and sex-matched controls without ALS enrolled in New Hampshire, Vermont, or Ohio, USA. We estimated their annual intake of mercury and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) via self-reported seafood consumption habits, including species and frequency. In our multivariable model, family income showed a significant positive association with ALS risk (p = 0.0003, adjusted for age, sex, family history, education, and race). Neither the estimated annual mercury nor omega-3 PUFA intakes via seafood were associated with ALS risk. ALS incidence is associated with socioeconomic status; however, consistent with a prior international study, this relationship is not linked to mercury intake estimated via fish or seafood consumption patterns.

Dietary Intake of Essential Elements (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mo, Co) from Tofu Consumption

Tofu is one of the most consumed soybean products. Currently, tofu is consumed in vegan and vegetarian diets to avoid meat. However, it is necessary to determine the content of essential elements to assess the dietary intake. Essential elements (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mo, Co) were determined in 130 samples of tofu by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy). The highest element content was found in flavoured tofu; the most notable were Na (2519 mg/kg wet weight) and Fe (19.5 mg/kg ww). Consumption of 200 g/day of flavoured tofu by adults would mean a high contribution of Cu (46.9% women, 38.1% men), Fe (55.7% women, 65.0% men) and Na (25.2% adults) to its AI (adequate intakes) sets by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Natural tofu would mean a remarkably Mn contribution (50% adults) to the AI. Tofu could be an important source of essential elements such as Mg, Mn, Na, Cu and Fe.

Optimization of a Digestion Method to Determine Total Mercury in Fish Tissue by Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrophotometry

Several microwave-assisted digestion methods were tested at the Centro de Estudios Aplicados en Química laboratory in Quito, Ecuador, to determine the accuracy and performance efficiency of the mineralization process for the determination of total mercury in fish tissue by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry. The use of MARSEasyPrep high-pressure vessels, low amounts of reagents (1 cm³ HNO₃, 1 cm³ H₂O₂, and 1 cm³ HClO₄), an irradiation temperature of 210 °C, and 35 min of mineralization time resulted in accurate performance, with recoveries of certified reference material DORM-4 between 90.1% and 105.8%. This is better than the Association of Official Analytical Chemists 2015.01 method, which has a reported accuracy of 81%. The repeatability precision and intermediate precision were established at three concentration levels (0.167, 0.500, and 0.833 mg·kg⁻¹) and expressed as the percentage of the relative standard deviation ranging from 1.5% to 3.0% and 1.7% to 4.2%, respectively. Further, the method was satisfactorily applied to analyze fortified samples of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), with recoveries ranging from 98.3% to 104.3%. The instrumental limits of detection and quantification were 0.118 µg·dm⁻³ and 0.394 µg·dm⁻³, respectively.

Total Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish in Market of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The mercury concentration was quantified in frozen and canned fish found in the market of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using the method of amalgamation by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with a direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80), significant differences in mercury concentrations among the analyzed fish were found. Frozen pangasius and canned tuna had the highest mercury concentration (59.1 μg/kg and 54.1 μg/kg, respectively). Also, fish from Vietnam had the highest level of total mercury in comparison to fish from other countries. Determined levels of mercury in our samples were below the limit set by the European and Bosnian and Herzegovinian legislation (500 μg/kg wet weight). We have concluded that consumption of commercial fish in the market of the Republic of Srpska does not present any health risk for the average consumer. Nevertheless, a surveillance system of mercury content in fishery products, especially in certain species that concentrate mercury, is crucial for public health protection.

Evaluation of potential human health risk due to the exposure to mercury via fish consumption of Alosa spp. from the southern Caspian Sea

The main objectives of the present study were to measure the concentration of mercury in Alosa spp. muscle tissue and to assess the health risk to consumers. For this purpose, fish samples were collected from four regions of the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Mean concentrations of mercury in the regions of Bandar Torkaman, Feridonkenar, Chalos and Bandar Anzali were 264.10, 73.74, 161.90, and 183.80 μg g^-1 dw, respectively. The mercury averages obtained in all four regions were below the standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The values of hazard quotient also showed no potential health risk for consumer. However, the assessment of other contaminants is recommended for more accurate conclusions about the health risks of consumers through the consumption of the fish.

Toxic metals (Al, Cd, Pb and Hg) in the most consumed edible seaweeds in Europe

Algae are becoming increasingly common because of their importance in vegan and vegetarian diets. Although they are a source of essential minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, these marine organisms have a high absorption capacity that can lead to the accumulation of toxic metals which are dangerous in humans. The objective of this study is to determine the content of toxic metals (Al, Cd, Pb and Hg) in edible seaweed samples marketed in Spain (Europe) to assess the toxicological risk from the intake of these metals. A total of 73 European and Asian algae samples marketed in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) were analyzed by ICP - OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry) and by CV-AAS (Cold Vapor - Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry). The major toxic metal was Al, whose highest level was recorded in seaweed salad (57.5 mg Al/kg dry weight). Regarding the origin, the highest concentrations of Al (38.9 mg/kg dw), Cd (0.59 mg/kg dw) and Pb (0.40 mg/kg dw) were found in Asian algae, which may be due to the high levels of industry in the Asian countries. However, the highest concentration of Hg (0.017 mg/kg dw) was found in European algae. The consumption of 5 g of dehydrated seaweed per day represents a percentage of contribution to the tolerable weekly intake of Cd of 22.7%, this percentage may entail a risk when considering total Cd intake. However, the consumption of 5 g a day of dehydrated seaweed would not, pose a risk to the health of adults.