Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016 Dec;23(24):24960-24969. doi: 10.1007/s11356-016-7634-9. Epub 2016 Sep 26.
Mercury is a toxic trace metal, which can accumulate to levels threatening human and environmental health. In this study, contents of total mercury have been determined by ICP-MS spectrometry in fresh and processed tuna (110 samples) purchased from supermarkets in NW Spain. Mercury was present in all samples analyzed; however, only one sample of fresh tuna (1.070 mg kg wet weight (w.w.)) slightly exceeded the limit of the EU (1.0 mg kg w.w.). The average mercury concentration in processed tuna was lower than fresh, 0.306 mg kg w.w., and ranged from 0.080 to 0.715 mg kg w.w. Results were compared with literature data. In regard to the three types of preparation-packaging media for canned tuna, total Hg content was found in the following order: olive oil > natural > pickled sauce; the last showed significant statistical differences (p < 0.01) with the other two preparations. Between the two evaluated canned tuna species, significant statistical differences (p = 0.008) were observed and Thunnus alalunga presented a greater mean content (0.332 ± 0.114 mg kg w.w.) compared to Thunnus albacares (0.266 ± 0.171 mg kg w.w.).Taking into account the AESAN recommendation for adults and children, as well as the EU regulations and the tuna consumption by the Spanish population, the Hg levels obtained in this study pose no risk to consumer health. However, additional studies, a monitoring process, and efforts to reduce Hg concentration in tuna would be necessary, as well as considering other sources of exposure to Hg.
汞是一种有毒的微量元素，它可以积累到威胁人类和环境健康的水平。在这项研究中，通过电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）对从西班牙西北部超市购买的新鲜和加工金枪鱼（110 个样本）中的总汞含量进行了测定。所有分析的样本中均存在汞，但只有一份新鲜金枪鱼（湿重 1.070 毫克/千克）略高于欧盟的限量（1.0 毫克/千克湿重）。加工金枪鱼的平均汞浓度低于新鲜金枪鱼，为 0.306 毫克/千克湿重，范围为 0.080 至 0.715 毫克/千克湿重。结果与文献数据进行了比较。对于罐装金枪鱼的三种包装材料（橄榄油、天然、腌制酱），总汞含量的顺序如下：橄榄油>天然>腌制酱；最后一种与其他两种制备方法有显著的统计学差异（p<0.01）。在两种评估的罐装金枪鱼品种之间，观察到了显著的统计学差异（p=0.008），Thunnus alalunga 的平均含量（0.332±0.114 毫克/千克湿重）明显高于 Thunnus albacares（0.266±0.171 毫克/千克湿重）。考虑到 AESAN 对成人和儿童的建议、欧盟法规以及西班牙人口对金枪鱼的消费，本研究中获得的汞水平不会对消费者健康构成威胁。然而，需要进行更多的研究、监测过程和努力降低金枪鱼中的汞浓度，同时还需要考虑其他来源的汞暴露。
