Heo Han Cheol, Lim Yeon Hee, Byun Young Seok, Sakong Joon
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
Graduate School of Environment & Public Health Studies, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea.
Ann Occup Environ Med. 2020 Jan 2;32:e3. doi: 10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e3. eCollection 2020.
Although unusually high levels of blood mercury have been reported in the North Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangbuk-do), mercury contents from shark meat distributed in this region have not been assessed yet. Thus, this study aims to identify the hazard by evaluating the mercury contents of the shark meat sold in the traditional market of Gyeongsangbuk-do.
The shark meat in the form of muscle meat was obtained from 15 traditional markets of Gyeongsangbuk-do in the summer and winter of 2013. Out of 105 samples in total, 49 were collected in the summer and 56 in the winter. The total mercury concentration was measured by the combustion-gold amalgamation method using an automatic mercury analyzer (Milestone DMA-80, Milestone).
The average mercury concentration of shark meat was 2.29 ± 1.77 µg/g, ranging between 0.06-8.93 µg/g with a geometric mean of 1.44 µg/g, which is higher than those reported in many countries. The mercury concentration in 77 of 105 shark meat samples exceeded 1 µg/g. Mercury concentration ranged between 0.09-8.93 µg/g (geometric mean: 1.45) in the summer and 0.06-6.73 µg/g (geometric mean: 1.48) in the winter.
Shark meat sold in the market contained a substantial amount of mercury. This suggests that it is difficult to reduce mercury intake by simply strengthening the standard level of mercury concentration in shark meat. Therefore, it is need to communication and awareness programs with consumers about hazardous effects of mercury inherent in shark meat.
尽管庆尚北道曾报告过血液中汞含量异常高，但该地区销售的鲨鱼肉中的汞含量尚未得到评估。因此，本研究旨在通过评估庆尚北道传统市场上销售的鲨鱼肉中的汞含量来确定其危害。
2013年夏季和冬季，从庆尚北道的15个传统市场获取肌肉形式的鲨鱼肉。总共105个样本中，夏季采集49个，冬季采集56个。使用自动测汞仪（Milestone DMA - 80，Milestone）通过燃烧 - 金汞齐法测量总汞浓度。
鲨鱼肉的平均汞浓度为2.29±1.77μg/g，范围在0.06 - 8.93μg/g之间，几何平均值为1.44μg/g，高于许多国家报告的水平。105个鲨鱼肉样本中有77个的汞浓度超过1μg/g。夏季汞浓度范围在0.09 - 8.93μg/g（几何平均值：1.45），冬季在0.06 - 6.73μg/g（几何平均值：1.48）。
市场上销售的鲨鱼肉含有大量汞。这表明仅通过加强鲨鱼肉中汞浓度的标准水平来减少汞摄入量是困难的。因此，需要开展与消费者的沟通和宣传项目，告知他们鲨鱼肉中汞的有害影响。
