Concentration and risk of contamination with trace elements in acipenserid and salmonid roe

Abstract

Fish roe is among important components of human diet, but its elemental composition is rather poorly known. In this study we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer (ICP-MS) to examine the content of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Se in the roe of sturgeon, sea trout and rainbow trout. In addition, risk assessment for consumer health was conducted by the determination of estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR). Overall, the elements formed the following sequence (mean values in μg kg−1): Se (1173) > Mn (785) > Ni (58.9) > As (27.6) > Mo (14.5) > Co (2.25) > Cr (1.31) > Pb (0.96) > Cd (0.41). The greatest concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb were recorded for the sturgeon roe, and the greatest Cd and Mo concentrations for the sea trout roe. The EDI values did not exceed permissible oral reference doses, the THQ were much below the permissible levels (THQ < 1), and the CR were at least within the permissible range (CR < 10−4). In conclusion, bioaccumulation of elements depended on the fish species, and for Cd, Co, Cr and Pb it was smaller than that observed in the roe of fish from other regions of the Earth. No risk for consumer health in terms of CR, THQ and HI values was detected in the examined roe. Assuming a small index of roe consumption, it can be concluded that its consumption should not pose a threat to human health.