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164419 
Journal Article 
Mercury in Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) - An investigation regarding to seafood safety 
Tran, HT 
2007 
English 
Mercury concentration in Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) caught in Barents Sea in January, 2006 was studied at the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES). Fifteen individual fish, of 65 analyzed Greenland halibut, had mercury concentration that exceeded the European upper limit for mercury of 0.5 mg/kg for fishery products. This study aims to investigate mercury concentration, as well as, arsenic, cadmium, lead and selenium concentration in 33 Greenland halibut (33 muscle and 33 liver samples) of the 65 ones. Correlation between the element concentrations and size of the fish, and, correlation between mercury and selenium concentration were also included in the current study. The element concentrations were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). Of the total 33 muscle samples, 4 individuals had total mercury concentration that exceeded EUs' upper limit All of these fish had a round weight higher than 3 kg. Mercury concentration in muscle and liver of Greenland halibut were 0.2 plus or minus 0.2 and 0.1 plus or minus 0.2 mg/kg w.w., respectively. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium and selenium in liver (27.9 plus or minus 22.5, 1.0 plus or minus 1.2 and 1.9 plus or minus 0.7 mg/kg w.w., respectively) were much higher than in muscle (9.6 plus or minus 5.9, < limit of quantitation (LOQ), 0.5 plus or minus 0.2 mg/kg w.w., respectively). There was a positive correlation between mercury and arsenic concentrations and weight of Greenland halibut in both muscle and liver samples. The correlation was also observed for selenium concentration in muscle of the fish. There was a positive correlation, between mercury and selenium concentration in muscle samples, but it was not seen in liver samples. The investigations in this study contribute to advisories on seafood consumption. 
Article Subject Terms: Arsenic; Fish physiology; Flatfish fisheries; Heavy metals; Marine fish; Marine fisheries; Mercury; Seafood; Selenium; Article Taxonomic Terms: Reinhardtius hippoglossoides; Article Geographic Terms: AN, Greenland; PNE, Barents Sea