Elemental composition of four farmed fish produced in Portugal

Abstract

Farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and turbot (Psetta maxima) produced in Portugal were analysed in order to characterize their elemental composition. Atomic absorption (flame and cold vapour) and molecular absorption spectrometry techniques were used to determine all the studied elements. Similar patterns of macro, trace and ultra trace elements were observed for all fish species. The main elements were potassium (K), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca), followed by zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni). Cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations, obtained in this study, allow concluding that these species do not present a hazard for human consumption. In addition, they contain almost all essential elements at concentrations sufficient to suit the dietary reference intake. Nevertheless, P. maxima nutritious trace element content is relatively low compared with the other three species.

Keywords::

• atomic absorption spectrometry
• mineral and trace elements
• Sparus aurata
• Dicentrarchus labrax
• Oncorhynchus mykiss
• Psetta maxima

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to staffs of DGV-Lisbon for the collection of farmed fish samples. They would also like to thank PhD Amparo Gonçalves for her help with statistical analysis.

Declaration of interest: This work was supported by the project PTDC/SAU-ESA/103825/2008 ‘Benefícios e riscos associados ao consumo de produtos da pesca: Uma análise de benefício-risco baseada na abundância e bioacessibilidade de n-3 PUFA e Selénio, Mercúrio e Arsénio em produtos crus e cozinhados (GOODFISH)’ of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.