Heavy metals concentrations in fish and shellfish from eastern Mediterranean Sea: Consumption advisories

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2013-03, Vol.53, p.33-37
• Main Authors: Copat, Chiara, Arena, Giovani, Fiore, Maria, Ledda, Caterina, Fallico, Roberto, Sciacca, Salvatore, Ferrante, Margherita
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer risk; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Consumption limits; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fishes; Food Contamination - analysis; Heavy metals; Medical sciences; Mediterranean Sea; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Mollusca - chemistry; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Risk Assessment; Seafood; Shellfish - analysis; THQ; Toxicology; Tumors; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2012.11.038

► Consumption rates advisory to minimize risks to human health have been estimated. ► THQ values suggest that humans should minimize meals/week of species analyzed. ► It is assumed an acceptable risk for cancer in consuming fish for As concentrations. The present study evaluate concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) in fish and shellfish from the Gulf of Catania. Heavy metal analysis was carried on with an ICP-MS, and consumption rates advisory for minimizing chronic systemic and non cancer endpoints in child and adults have been estimated. Among metals investigated, only Cd and Pb have a limit set by European Community for human consumption, and the thresholds were not been exceeded in analyzed species. The As, toxic in its inorganic form, have not a regulatory limit yet, but the Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization provide a reference dose, a cancer slope factor and a tolerable intake, applicable in the risk factors assessment. Arsenic target hazard quotient (THQ) values, suggest that human should minimizing meals/week of analyzed species to avoid deleterious effect during lifetime, furthermore, with As cancer risk assessment, for most of the fish, the risk for cancer is greater than the acceptable lifetime risk of 10–5. Our results give important finding about the consumption limits on certain metals, especially for As, all for minimizing potential health risks in population.