Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway.
University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Sep;28(36):50316-50328. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-14093-0. Epub 2021 May 6.
Recreational fishers often consume their catch, which may expose them to environmental contaminants. However, targeted risk assessment for exceeding the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of a specific contaminant is often lacking, as specific data on the extent of fishing, consumption rates, and contamination of the caught seafood is needed. This study examined recreational fishing for nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) at several different locations in Western Norway to identify important risk factors. The combination of a field survey to examine actual catches, interviews of recreational fishers about their seafood eating habits, and the analysis of total mercury (Hg, as a proxy for methylmercury (MeHg)) in recreationally captured nephrops allowed to conduct a targeted risk assessment. Recreational fishers consumed on average seven nephrops per meal, and 73% of the fishers ate nephrops once a month or more. The average Hg concentrations in nephrops were below the legal maximum level (100 ± 50 μg/kg wet weight (mean ± SD)). Hg concentrations in female nephrops were significantly higher than in males at the same size, and differed significantly between locations. The recreational fishers in this study were not at risk of exceeding the TWI for MeHg from consuming nephrops only; however, there is a general risk of exceeding TWI for MeHg as 70% of the fishers reported a frequent consumption of fish for dinner. Targeted risk assessments on recreational fishers may reveal particularly vulnerable populations where national dietary surveys may miss the highest seafood consumers.
休闲渔民经常食用他们捕获的鱼，这可能使他们接触到环境污染物。然而，由于需要特定的捕鱼量、消费率和捕获海鲜的污染数据，针对特定污染物超过可耐受每周摄入量（TWI）的目标风险评估往往缺乏。本研究在挪威西部的几个不同地点检查了休闲捕捞龙虾（Nephrops norvegicus），以确定重要的风险因素。结合实地调查检查实际捕捞量、休闲渔民关于其海鲜饮食习惯的访谈以及对休闲捕捞的龙虾中总汞（Hg，作为甲基汞（MeHg）的替代物）的分析，进行了有针对性的风险评估。休闲渔民平均每餐食用七只龙虾，73%的渔民每月或更多次食用龙虾。龙虾中的平均 Hg 浓度低于法定最高水平（100±50μg/kg 湿重（平均值±SD））。同一大小的雌性龙虾中的 Hg 浓度明显高于雄性龙虾，而且不同地点之间存在显著差异。本研究中的休闲渔民仅从食用龙虾中摄入 MeHg 不会超过 TWI；然而，由于 70%的渔民经常在晚餐时吃鱼，因此存在着超过 MeHg 的 TWI 的一般风险。对休闲渔民进行有针对性的风险评估可能会揭示特别脆弱的人群，在这些人群中，国家饮食调查可能会错过最高的海鲜消费者。
