Survey of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in seafood purchased in Campania, Italy

Abstract

Lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic were surveyed in fresh catch, farmed and frozen marine fish, cephalopods and mussels marketed in Campania (Italy), and the population's weekly intake from seafood was assessed. A total of 162 specimens of fish and cephalopods and 30 pools of mussels were analyzed. Pb levels in fresh catch species ranged between <20 and 689 ng/g; in farmed from <20 to 438 ng/g and in frozen from <20 to 541 ng/g. Cd values ranged in fresh catch seafood from <0.8 to 19.8 ng/g; in farmed from <0.8 to 42.3 ng/g; in frozen from <0.8 to 93.1. Hg levels ranged 8-339 ng/g in wild seafood; <5-226 ng/g in farmed and <5-313 ng/g in frozen. In fresh catch seafood, As values ranged <10-231 ng/g; in farmed from 12-310 ng/g and in frozen 12-272 ng/g. Cd and Hg concentrations were below the EU limits in all species; two samples of farmed European seabass and two frozen samples exceeded EU limits for Pb. The median weekly dietary intake could affect the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of Pb by 2% (range 0.5-16.5%), Cd PTWI by 0.9% (range 0.1-8.0%), Hg PTWI by 9.6% (range 0.6-41.0%) and the As PTWI by 3.6% (range 0.4-12.5%). Considering the upper values in the ranges, seafood represents a non-negligible contribution to Pb weekly intake (16.5%), but mainly to the weekly intake of Hg (41.0%) for high seafood consumers and those consuming the most contaminated species.

Human exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury through fish and seafood product consumption in Italy: a pilot evaluation

“…This value accounted approximately for 20% of the recent TWI established by EFSA. Cd EWIs comparable with that found in this study have been previously reported by other authors (Martorell et al 2001;Llobet et al 2003;Rubio et al 2006;Cirillo et al 2010). An higher estimated weekly intake (approximately 40% of the standard TWI) was noticed by Mun˜oz et al (2005) for fish and shellfish.…”

“…Previous literature revealed a comparable range of EWIs with respect to that found in this study for the total population and median consumers in Italy. In detail, Cirillo et al (2010) noticed lower results with respect to that found in this study for Italian median consumers (approximately 30% of the standard PTWI for methyl-Hg). A lower percentage with respect to the standard PTWI, that is, 10% for fish and shellfish, was also found by Mun˜oz et al (2005) for a population in Santiago, Chile.…”

“…The obtained EWIs account for 1.5%, 2.5% and 7%, respectively, of the standard PTWI stipulated by JEFCA. Previous surveys highlighted comparable results for fish and seafood products (EWIs from 0.5% to 2% of the standard PTWI) (Martorell et al 2001;Llobet et al 2003;Falco´et al 2006;Cirillo et al 2010). As for Cd, the results showed that the consumption of cephalopod and bivalve molluscs increased the dietary intake of Pb.…”

Commercial squids: Characterization, assessment of potential health benefits/risks and discrimination based on mineral, lipid and vitamin E concentrations

“…1C). The concen-trations of arsenic are not presented since all samples displayed values lower than the attained limit of detection (Table 2S) which is in accordance with literature data that indicate very low As amounts for the only characterized species, L. vulgaris (Cirillo et al, 2010).…”

Human health risk assessment from arsenic exposure after sea bream (Sparus aurata) consumption in Aegean region

“…Nutritionists recommend regular fish intake (Cirillo et al, 2010). Fish consumption is beneficial for health because of its proteins, polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid), minerals (calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, etc.)…”