Total and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni): Health Risk Assessment

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 100; no. 6; pp. 748 - 753
• Main Authors: Yoon, Minchul, Jo, Mi Ra, Kim, Poong Ho, Choi, Woo Seok, Kang, Sang In, Choi, Seok Gwan, Lee, Jong Hee, Lee, Hee Chung, Son, Kwang Tae, Mok, Jong Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Bioaccumulation; Concentration (composition); Dissostichus mawsoni; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Fish; Food additives; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Liver; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Methylmercury; Muscles; Organs; Pollution; Risk assessment; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; International guidelines; Antarctic toothfish; Total mercury; Methylmercury; Dissostichus mawsoni
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-018-2326-4

The concentrations of total mercury (THg) in different organs of the Antarctic toothfish ( Dissostichus mawsoni ) collected from CCAMLR research blocks in Subarea 88.3 and Division 58.4.1 off the coast of Antarctica were determined. The results revealed THg concentrations of 0.165 ± 0.095 mg/kg (0.023–0.454 mg/kg, wet weight) in the Antarctic toothfish. In muscle, methyl mercury (MeHg) accounted for approximately 40% of the THg. In a comparison analysis, muscle and liver tended to bioaccumulate the highest levels of THg, and both THg and MeHg contents showed correlations with fish length and weight. Compared with international guidelines, fish contained 2.5–6.4% and 4.0–10.3% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake for THg recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and the tolerable weekly intake for MeHg proposed by the European Food Safety Authority, respectively. These results suggest that consumption of the Antarctic toothfish presents no health risk to humans.