Trace Elements and Omega-3 Fatty Acids of Wild and Farmed Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Consumed in Bulgaria: Human Health Risks.

Katya Peycheva,Nicola Cicero,Veselina Panayotova,Francesco Fazio,Lubomir Makedonski,Albena Merdzhanova,Rositsa Stancheva,Vincenzo Parrino

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910023

Abstract

The unique, closed ecosystem of the Black Sea is of significant global importance. The levels and health risk of some trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in wild and farmed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from the Bulgarian part of the Black Sea were determined and using different approaches such as Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), Target risk (TR), human health risk levels were assessed. The mean maximum concentrations of the elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in all mussel samples were below the maximum permissible limits (MPLs) except that which exceeded the limit of 2.00 mg/kg ww. Eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acids profile studied mussels showed that the farmed mussels had higher PUFA/SFA ratios, DHA and EPA + DHA content and lower SFA, AI and TI values. The target risk (TR) values for Pb, Cr, Ni and As were calculated, evaluated and showed acceptable or negligible levels. Target hazard quotients (THQs) and hazard index (HI) from elemental intake were below 1 indicated no hazard from consumption. The benefit–risk ratio indicated that wild and cultured M. galloprovincialis are safe for human consumption.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilSeafood is the main dietary source of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) for humans [1,2,3,4,5,6]
We found that EPA and DHA contents significantly varied among the sampling stations, but DHA prevailed in mussels from VPS, BSS, and DFA
This study aimed to assess if farmed Mytilus galloprovincialis could compete with the wild mussels in terms of nutritional value and human health risk

Summary

Introduction

Seafood is the main dietary source of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) for humans [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Excess fishing of wild resources had led to reducing natural stocks to critical levels. To meet the growing demand for n-3 LC-PUFA, aquaculture is the seafood supply to generate high quality products on a solid basis of environment sustainability [6,7]. Marine bivalves are an important resource worldwide since they do not need formulated feeds, filtering phyto- and zooplankton, bacteria and organic detritus present naturally in the water column [9]. The lipid composition of any marine organism is an important indication of meat quality and permits assessing its nutritional value

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion