US EPA

3784088 

Journal Article 

Total and organic mercury, selenium and alpha-tocopherol in some deep-water fish species 

Afonso, C; Lourenco, HM; Pereira, C; Martins, MF; Carvalho, ML; Castro, M; Nunes, ML 

2008 

1 

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
ISSN: 0022-5142
EISSN: 1097-0010 

88 

14 

2543-2550 

10.1002/jsfa.3379 

WOS:000260645500020 

BACKGROUND: Mercury is a well-known toxic element present in seafood. Nevertheless some antioxidants, like selenium, as an integral component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, and alpha-tocopherol having a protective role against it, are present as well. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of total mercury (Hg-T), organic mercury (Hg-Org), Se and alpha-tocopherol in some adult deep-water fish species caught off Portuguese waters.



RESULTS: Levels of Hg-T were above EU limits in 6% of Lophius spp. and Aphanopus carbo, 2% ofLepidorhombus spp. and 70% of Helicolenus dactylopterus. Hg-Org represented the major fraction (more than 84%) of Hg-T in all studied muscles. The selenium concentration in muscle was similar in all species (about 0.4 mg kg(-1) wet weight) and the highest level of alpha-tocopherol (70 mg kg(-1) wet weight) was found in Aphanopus carbo.



CONCLUSION: The muscle of all species studied is a good source of selenium, but only can give a small contribution of alpha-tocopherol. Attending to the provisional tolerable weekly intake established by the WHO/FAO for methylmercury, it appears that the species studied should be consumed sparingly. (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry 

fish; total and organic mercury; antioxidants; AAS; HPLC; EDXRF