Trace Elements and Omega-3 Fatty Acids of Wild and Farmed Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Consumed in Bulgaria: Human Health Risks

Abstract

The unique, closed ecosystem of the Black Sea is of significant global importance. The levels and health risk of some trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in wild and farmed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from the Bulgarian part of the Black Sea were determined and using different approaches such as Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), Target risk (TR), human health risk levels were assessed. The mean maximum concentrations of the elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in all mussel samples were below the maximum permissible limits (MPLs) except that which exceeded the limit of 2.00 mg/kg ww. Eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acids profile studied mussels showed that the farmed mussels had higher PUFA/SFA ratios, DHA and EPA+DHA content and lower SFA, AI and TI values. The target risk (TR) values for Pb, Cr, Ni and As were calculated, evaluated and showed acceptable or negligible levels. Target hazard quotients (THQs) and hazard index (HI) from elemental intake were below 1 indicated no hazard from consumption. The benefit–risk ratio indicated that wild and cultured M. galloprovincialis are safe for human consumption.

Effect of steaming on chemical composition of Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis): Evaluation of potential risk associated with human consumption

“…The raw M. galloprovincialis presented a favorable fatty acid composition with the predominance of PUFA (66.6%), followed by SFA (25.3%) and MUFA (8.1%). These data are in agreement with those reported previously for the same species from the Black Sea (Merdzhanova et al., 2019 ; Panayotova et al., 2021 ; Peycheva et al., 2021a , 2021b ; Stancheva et al., 2017 ; Stratev et al., 2017 ). However, other authors reported that SFA was the most abundant fatty acid group in raw M. galloprovincialis from the Mediterranean Sea (Biandolino et al., 2019 , 2021 ; Prato et al., 2019 , 2020 ).…”

“…The values below 1 (THQ < 1) reveal a lower level of exposure, which is associated with a daily exposure at this level is not likely to cause any harmful effects for human health during a lifetime in population (Bogdanović et al, 2014). According to our study, there were no THQ or HI values exceeding the value of 1 through the consumption of steamed M. galloprovincialis from Black Sea (Bulgaria) and it may be concluding that all tested elements in the steamed samples indicate that no health risk is present according to regulation or literature data (Jović & Stanković, 2014;Kalogeropoulos et al, 2012;Nekhoroshkov et al, 2021;Peycheva et al, 2021aPeycheva et al, , 2021b.…”

Stepwise Approach for Tracing the Geographical Origins of the Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum Using Dual-Element Isotopes and Carbon Isotopes of Fatty Acids

“…This method differs from our approach, in that the stepwise approach employed in the present study focuses on less time-and labor-consuming methods for unclassified samples. Many studies have reported that FAs provide considerable information regarding diet, trophic transfer, and specific metabolic pathways [32] and show potential for authenticating such information in food, such as dairy products, shellfish, and livestock [59][60][61]. However, the analysis of FAs in a large number of samples is time-consuming [59], whereas this study demonstrated that supplementary experiments for determining FA profiles with small sample sizes are quite effective because they can be selectively applied to necessary samples.…”

Levels of Elements in Typical Mussels from the Southern Coast of Africa (Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique): Safety Aspect

“…THQ is a ratio that illustrates the long-term non-carcinogenic exposure probabilities and reflects the risk associated with the consumption of the contaminated mussels [46]. The values below 1 (THQ < 1) are associated with lower levels of exposure, which is not likely to cause any harmful effects for human health during a lifetime in the population.…”