Wild fish and seafood species in the western Mediterranean Sea with low safe mercury concentrations. (1st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Capodiferro, Marco; Marco, Esther; Grimalt, Joan O.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 314(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12-01
• Subjects: Mercury -- Mediterranean sea -- Fish -- Seafood -- Safe species; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: A total of 1345 specimens belonging to 58 different species of wild fish and seafood from the western Mediterranean Sea were analyzed to assess total mercury levels and to estimate which species meet the EU recommendations for human consumption (0.5 μg g −1 ww) in all cases. All fish species were caught off the Mediterranean coasts and intended for human consumption. All specimens were collected from local markets located in Spain, Italy and France that sell fish caught by local fishermen (Eivissa, Menorca, Mallorca, Alacant, L'Ampolla, Ametlla de Mar, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Alghero) at different time periods. Mercury concentrations were measured by thermal decomposition-gold amalgamator-atomic absorption spectrometry. Only thirteen species were found that did not exceed 0.5 μg g −1 ww in any specimen analyzed. These safe species were sardines ( Sardina pilchardus ), anchovies ( Engraulis encrasicolus ), blue whiting ( Micromesistius poutassou ), picarel ( Spicara smaris ), blackspot seabream ( Pagellus bogaraveo ), gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ), pearly razorfish ( Xyrichtys novacula ), surmullet ( Mullus surmuletus ), painted comber ( Serranus scriba ), brown meagre ( Sciaena umbra ), salema ( Sarpa salpa ), common dolphinfish ( Coryphaena hippurus ) and squid ( Loligo vulgaris ). These species occupy different trophic levels, have different lengths and average weights, but show a low mercury concentration than others living in the same environments. Potential human consumption of these species as sole source of fish would imply estimated weekly intakes representing between 49% and 70% of the recommended provisional tolerable weekly intake of methylmercury in the worst case. Health authorities should pay specific attention to species that do not meet EU thresholds and make appropriate precautionary health recommendations, especially for pregnant women and children. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Of the 58 species tested, only 13 met EU thresholds for human intake in all cases. sardine, anchovy, blue whiting, picarel, seabreams and squid met these EU limits. razorfish, surmullet, comber, meagre, salema and dolphinfish also met these limits. These species occupy different trophic levels but show low Hg concentrations. Consumption of these species represent 49–70% of the MeHg tolerable weekly intake.