Risk Assessment of Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury on Human Health in Relation to the Consumption of Farmed Sea Bass in Italy: A Meta-Analytical Approach

Daniela Lo Monaco,Giuseppe Barbera,Ines Tliba,Gianluigi Maria Lo Dico,Saloua Sadok,Luisa Battaglia,Calogero Di Bella,Pietro Schembri,Valentina Ciprì,Gaetano Cammilleri,Antonino Calagna,Vincenzo Ferrantelli,Rosalinda Allegro

doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.616488

Abstract

A risk assessment, related to the consumption of farmed sea bass, was carried out by meta-analysis, taking into account the concentration of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Hg) reported in the literature, the estimated weekly intake (EWI), the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), and the target hazard quotient (THQ). The concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Hg in farmed sea bass marketed in Sicily (Southern Italy) were also assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) to have screening data for the comparison with literature results. In any case, the results obtained by meta-analysis and by screening were lower than the pre-established legal limits for each metal. The meta-analysis results showed very low levels of Cd (0.031 μg g–1 w.w.), Pb (0.110 μg g–1 w.w.), and Hg (0.023 μg g–1 w.w.). The EWI estimation confirmed safety limits for human health (0.004, 0.015, and 0.003 μg kg–1 for Cd, Pb, and Hg, respectively). Even the THQ demonstrated that farmed sea bass represent a secure food for humans (0.0006, 0.0005, and 0.0048 for Cd, Pb, and Hg, respectively). The comparison with our screening data showed a significant difference only for the Pb levels (p &lt; 0.05). The results obtained were compared with the same indexes relative to other food types (meat, cereals, vegetables, etc.). The EWI and THQ calculated were always lower than same indexes relative to other food types considered.

Highlights

In recent decades, the demand for fish by consumers has increased significantly with the awareness of the positive effects on human health arising from the consumption of aquatic products (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2020a,b).To overcome this increasing demand, intensive aquaculture systems of different fish species were carried out
7,000 tons of farmed sea bass was produced in Italy (European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products, 2018), and 237 tons of European sea bass was captured in Italy (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2017)
The main objectives of the selected studies were different from our aim: Alasalvar et al (2002); Yildiz (2008), Ferreira et al (2010), and Renieri et al (2019) investigated the differences between cultured and wild sea bass in relation to concentration of trace metals and other elements

Summary

Introduction

The demand for fish by consumers has increased significantly with the awareness of the positive effects on human health arising from the consumption of aquatic products (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2020a,b). To overcome this increasing demand, intensive aquaculture systems of different fish species were carried out. 7,000 tons of farmed sea bass was produced in Italy (European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products, 2018), and 237 tons of European sea bass was captured in Italy (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2017). The percentage of farmed sea bass consumed in Italy was equal to 5.3% of the total fish products consumed, and locally raised sea bass was 38.9% of those consumed

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Conclusion