UV-photochemical vapor generation coupled to hydride generation AAS in the study of dietary intake of Se, Hg, Cd, and Pb from fish

Abstract

The consumption of fish by pregnant and lactating women is at the center of attention both from the point of view of ensuring healthy nutrition for fetal and neonatal development, and from the toxicological point of view. This research included a questionnaire survey on the frequency of fish consumption and the particular fish species consumed by 180 pregnant and lactating women in the Czech Republic, as well as the determination of Se, Hg, Cd, and Pb in the most commonly consumed species available on the Czech market. For this purpose, an analytical method for the determination of total selenium in biological samples using UV-photochemical vapor generation coupled to hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (UV-PVG-HG-AAS) was developed. This unique UV-photoreactor enables accurate and precise determination of Se with a detection limit of 0.007 mg/kg. Fish consumption by female respondents was generally low compared to the EU average. The determined Se contents in samples indicate a low intake of Se from fish in the Czech Republic; one third of the samples had Se contents below the detection limit. The highest Se contents were observed in the species Scomber scombrus, Sander lucioperca, and Thunnus albacares. The Hg content in fish samples did not exceed the EU maximum permissible values for mercury and methylmercury. The Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI), which is 1.3 μg/kg of body weight per week, was not exceeded by any of the respondents. The maximum permissible value for Cd given by the European Commission was exceeded in the case of one sample of Scomber scombrus. Most of the samples had Cd content below the detection limit (0.002 mg/kg). The content of Pb in the analyzed samples was below the detection limit (0.013 mg/kg).