Essential and toxic elements in sardines and tuna on the Colombian market

ABSTRACT

The presence of metals in canned fish has been associated with adverse effects on human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk-based fish consumption limits based on the concentrations of eight essential elements and four elements of toxicological concern in sardines and tuna brands commercially available in the Latin American canned goods market. One brand of canned sardines and six of canned tuna were collected and evaluated by ICP-MS and direct mercury analysis. The Hg content was much higher than that previously observed in scientific literature. According to the calculated hazard quotients, all brands may present some risk in terms of this element, especially brand F in which levels up to 3.1 µg/g were measured. Sardine samples surpassed the maximum limits of Mn and As. Stricter quality control in retail chains and industries should be implemented in order to guarantee safe levels in fishery products.

KEYWORDS:

• Essential elements
• toxic elements
• heavy metals
• lead
• cadmium
• mercury
• arsenic
• Latin America
• canned fish

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Minciencias – National Program for Doctoral Formation (Grants 757-2016); the U.S. Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Colombian doctoral student fellowship; the initiatives to Support Research groups (2018–2020); the Doctoral Programs (2018–2020); and Vice-Presidency for Research of the University of Cartagena (Grant N153/2019).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Initiatives to Support Research groups – University of Cartagena [2018–2020]; Vice-Presidency for Research of the University of Cartagena [153/2019]; Minciencias – National Program for Doctoral Formation [757-2016]; Doctoral Programs – University of Cartagena [2018–2020].