Metal Contents in Fish from the Bay of Bengal and Potential Consumer Exposure-The EAF-Nansen Programme.

Amalie Moxness Reksten,Inger Aakre,Marian Kjellevold,Sujeewa Ariyawansa,John Ryder,Anne-Katrine Lundebye,Zillur Rahman,Esther Garrido Gamarro,Shakuntala H Thilsted,Lauren M Pincus,Anna Nordhagen

doi:10.3390/foods10051147

Abstract

Fish represent an important part of the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi diet. However, fish is also a source of contaminants that may constitute a health risk to consumers. The aim of this study was to analyse the contents of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in 24 commonly consumed marine fish species from the Bay of Bengal and to assess the potential health risk associated with their consumption. Mercury and lead contents did not exceed the maximum limits for any of the sampled species, and consumer exposure from estimated daily consumption was assessed to be minimal for adults and children. Numerous samples exceeded the maximum limit for cadmium (58%), particularly those of small size (≤25 cm). However, consumer exposure was insignificant, and health assessment showed no risk connected to consumption. These data represent an important contribution to future risk/benefit assessments related to the consumption of fish.

Highlights

Accepted: May 2021Published: May 2021Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
We presented analytical data on the contents of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in a large variety of marine fish species from the Bay of Bengal, several of which have not been analysed before
Our findings showed that the contents of mercury and lead in all of the sampled fish species did not exceed the European Union (EU) maximum limits, and that the exposure to these metals from estimated daily fish consumption of the analysed fish species are minimal for adults and children

Summary

Introduction

Accepted: May 2021Published: May 2021Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Fish represent an important and rich source of essential and bioavailable nutrients, such as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B12 , vitamin D, calcium, iodine, and selenium [1,2]. We have previously shown that several of the marine fish species from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may provide 25% or more of the recommended daily nutrient intake for multiple micronutrients [3,4]. In Sri Lanka, fish is estimated to contribute to approximately 55% of total animal protein intake per capita [5], whereas, in Bangladesh, the contribution is estimated to be around 60% [6]; fish is the most important animal source of food in both countries [7]. Fish may be a source of various contaminants, such as metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and plastics

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