Exposure Assessment of Methyl Mercury from Consumption of Fish and Seafood in Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract The concentration of meHg in freshwater fish and seafood was investigated, as well as the consumption patterns of fish and seafood by different demographic groups (age, ethnicity, gender). A potential alarm for human-health hazards was also assessed, and the results were compared to the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes (PTWIs) and the Hazard Quotient parameter (HQ). Results showed that meHg levels of 67 species ranged from 0.013 to 0.252 mg/kg of wet weight (WW) with significant differences between different fish and seafood groups (χ2KW = 49.09; p < 0.001). Median concentrations of meHg in fish and seafood groups in descending orders: demersal fish (0.1006 mg/kg WW) > pelagic fish (0.0686 mg/kg WW) > freshwater fish 0.045 mg/kg WW) > cephalopods (0.0405 mg/kg WW) crustaceans (0.0356 mg/kg WW). Results revealed that older population (> 40 years old) consumed significantly (p = 0.000) more fish compared to younger generations and the elderly consumed the highest amounts of fish (104.0 ± 113.0 g/day). The adolescents (10–17 years old) consumed more than double of amount for both cephalopod and crustacean compared to the older populations (p < 0.05). Malay ethnic (96.1 ± 99.6 g/day) consumed significantly (p = 0.000) higher amounts of fish and seafood compared to other ethnicity, similarly to male subjects (95.2 ± 102 g/day; p = 0.026) when compared to the female (86 ± 96.3 g/day). The estimated weekly intake (EWI) values showed results of below 1.6 µg/kg BW/week, the tolerable levels recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) for all different demographic factors except for higher consumers at 75th percentile and above. Consumption of marine fish contributed to higher value of PTWI to all different demographic groups (the estimated weekly intake (EWI) range: 0.2988–0.6893 µg/kg BW/week) but for the adolescents, where from the consumption of crustaceans (0.3488 µg/kg BW/week or 21.8% of PTWI) and cephalopods (0.504 µg/kg BW/week or 31.5% of PTWI). Results from this study also revealed the HQ value for overall consumption of fish and seafood by the adolescents and elderly exceeded one. This was contributed from the consumption of demersal fish and cephalopods, thus indicating the non-acceptable level of non-carcinogenic adverse health effects.

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Exposure Assessment of methyl mercury from consumption of fish and seafood in Peninsular Malaysia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-021-17483-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nurul Izzah Ahmad ◽

Wan Rozita Wan Mahiyuddin ◽

Wan Nurul Farah Wan Azmi ◽

Ruzanaz Syafira Ruzman Azlee ◽

Rafiza Shaharudin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Freshwater Fish ◽

Hazard Quotient ◽

Food Additives ◽

The Elderly ◽

Demersal Fish ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Expert Committee ◽

Demographic Groups ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Weekly Intake

AbstractThe concentration of meHg in freshwater fish and seafood was investigated, as well as the consumption patterns of fish and seafood by different demographic groups (age, ethnicity, gender). A potential alarm for human health hazards was also assessed, and the results were compared to the provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs) and the hazard quotient parameter (HQ). The results showed that meHg levels of 67 species ranged from 0.013 to 0.252 mg/kg of wet weight (WW) with significant differences between different fish and seafood groups (χ2KW = 49.09; p < 0.001). Median concentrations of meHg in fish and seafood groups in descending orders are as follows: demersal fish (0.1006 mg/kg WW) > pelagic fish (0.0686 mg/kg WW) > freshwater fish 0.045 mg/kg WW) > cephalopods (0.0405 mg/kg WW) crustaceans (0.0356 mg/kg WW). The results revealed that older population (> 40 years old) consumed significantly (p = 0.000) more fish compared to younger generations and the elderly consumed the highest amounts of fish (104.0 ± 113.0 g/day). The adolescents (10–17 years old) consumed more than double of amount for both cephalopod and crustacean compared to the older populations (p < 0.05). Malay ethnic (96.1 ± 99.6 g/day) consumed significantly (p = 0.000) higher amounts of fish and seafood compared to other ethnicities, similar to male subjects (95.2 ± 102 g/day; p = 0.026) when compared to the female (86 ± 96.3 g/day). The estimated weekly intake (EWI) values showed results below 1.6 µg/kg BW/week, the tolerable levels recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) for all different demographic factors except for higher consumers at 75th percentile and above. Consumption of marine fish contributed to a higher value of PTWI to all different demographic groups (the estimated weekly intake (EWI) range: 0.2988–0.6893 µg/kg BW/week) but for the adolescents, where from the consumption of crustaceans (0.3488 µg/kg BW/week or 21.8% of PTWI) and cephalopods (0.504 µg/kg BW/week or 31.5% of PTWI). The results from this study also revealed the HQ value for overall consumption of fish and seafood by the adolescents and elderly exceeded one. This was contributed from the consumption of demersal fish and cephalopods, thus indicating the nonacceptable level of noncarcinogenic adverse health effects.

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Health Risk Assessment of Six Heavy Metals in Different Sources of Honey Consumed in China

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.680.86 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 680 ◽

pp. 86-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jin Zhe He ◽

Qiang Feng ◽

Pei Long Sun

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Atomic Absorption ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Graphite Furnace ◽

Hazard Quotient ◽

Food Additives ◽

Hazard Index ◽

Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry ◽

Expert Committee ◽

Flame Atomic Absorption

As the consumption of honey is booming because of its multiple health-promoting effects, the possible health risks resulting from long-term exposure to metals contained in this honey need to be evaluated. The concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, As,Hg and Zn) in three sources of honeys collected from China, were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) and hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) after microwave-assisted digestion. The rangs obtained for the element analyzed in ug kg-1 were as follow:Cd(4.9)Comparing with safety intake levels for these heavy metals recommended by US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), both the Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for single heavy metal and the Hazard Index (HI) value for all six heavy metals were far below 1, indicating no chronic-toxic risks from these heavy metals due to daily consumption of 0.01 kg of honey for a 70 kg individual.

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Risk assessment of mercury and methyl mercury intake via sardine and swordfish consumption in Algeria

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.21792 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 1679

Author(s):

F. MEHOUEL ◽

L. BOUAYAD ◽

A. BERBER ◽

I. VAN HAUTEGHEM ◽

M. VAN DE WIELE

Keyword(s):

Hazard Quotient ◽

Food Additives ◽

Hazard Index ◽

Target Hazard Quotient ◽

Expert Committee ◽

Tolerable Weekly Intake ◽

Direct Mercury Analyzer ◽

Wet Weight ◽

Daily Intakes ◽

Estimated Daily Intakes

Total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in the flesh of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fished in three Algerian coasts were determined by a direct mercury analyzer (DMA). We also assessed the risk to which the consumer was exposed to by calculating the estimated daily intakes (EDIs), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI). The average concentrations of Hg and MeHg in the flesh of sardine were similar (0.04 mg/kg wet weight) and in swordfish were 0.61 mg/kg wet weight; 0.57 mg/kg wet weight, respectively. These concentrations have not surpassed the thresholds set by the Algerian and European regulations. The estimated daily intakes for Hg and MeHg were similar in sardine (0.0064 μg/kg/day) and were 0.098 μg/kg/day and 0.092 μg/kg/day for Hg and MeHg, respectively, in swordfish. These values did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and the hazard index (HI) calculated were < 1. Consequently, consumption of these fishes does not pose any risk for the adult groups of the Algerian population regarding mercury, and methylmercury studied.

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Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Dietary Exposure to Deoxynivalenol in Wheat-Based Products Based Different Wheat-Producing Area for the Inhabitants in Shanghai, China

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7121015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 1015

Author(s):

Xianli Yang ◽

Zhiyong Zhao ◽

Jianhua Wang ◽

Junhua Yang ◽

Hengchao E ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Risks ◽

Food Additives ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Dietary Exposure ◽

Expert Committee ◽

Potential Health ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Main Production ◽

Daily Intakes ◽

Production Areas

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the major mycotoxins that contaminate cereals. In this study, we determined the DON level in wheat-based products from Chinese five main production areas collected in Shanghai and calculated the daily intake of DON for inhabitants using the point evaluation and the probabilistic evaluation based on Monte Carlo simulation. The results showed the positive rates of DON in the products were higher than 80.0%, with the concentrations ranging from 41.8 to 1110 µg/kg. The estimated mean daily intakes of DON for 7- to 10-year-old children and adults groups were below 1 µg/kg bw/day, the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), suggesting no health risks for the consumers. However, the 99th percentiles of dietary DON exposures for children and adults exceeded the PMTDI, indicating adverse health effects might occur if the two groups intake highly contaminated wheat-based products. The potential health risks for the two groups exposed to DON in the wheat-based products from the Middle and Lower Yangtze Valley (MLYV) were higher than those from the other areas in China.

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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

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.616488 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Calogero Di Bella ◽

Antonino Calagna ◽

Gaetano Cammilleri ◽

Pietro Schembri ◽

Daniela Lo Monaco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Human Health ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Hazard Quotient ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sea Bass ◽

Target Hazard Quotient ◽

Weekly Intake ◽

Tolerable Weekly Intake ◽

Significant Difference

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 < 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.

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Characterization and Lifetime Dietary Risk Assessment of Eighteen Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid N-Oxides in New Zealand Honey

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins13120843 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 843

Author(s):

Andrew J. Pearson ◽

Jeane E. F. Nicolas ◽

Jane E. Lancaster ◽

C. Wymond Symes

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids ◽

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid ◽

Food Additives ◽

Dietary Exposure ◽

World Health ◽

Exposure Model ◽

Average Lifetime ◽

Expert Committee ◽

Dietary Risk

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a large group of botanical toxins of concern, as they are considered genotoxic carcinogens, with long-term dietary exposure presenting an elevated risk of liver cancer. PAs can contaminate honey through honeybees visiting the flowers of PA-containing plant species. A program of monitoring New Zealand honey has been undertaken over several years to build a comprehensive dataset on the concentration, regional and seasonal distribution, and botanical origin of 18 PAs and PA N-oxides. A bespoke probabilistic exposure model has then been used to assess the averaged lifetime dietary risk to honey consumers, with exposures at each percentile of the model characterized for risk using a margin of exposure from the Joint World Health Organization and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) Benchmark Dose. Survey findings identify the typical PA types for New Zealand honey as lycopsamine, echimidine, retrorsine and senecionine. Regional and seasonal variation is evident in the types and levels of total PAs, linked to the ranges and flowering times of certain plants. Over a lifetime basis, the average exposure an individual will receive through honey consumption is considered within tolerable levels, although there are uncertainties over high and brand-loyal consumers, and other dietary contributors. An average lifetime risk to the general population from PAs in honey is not expected. However, given the uncertainties in the assessment, risk management approaches to limit or reduce exposures through honey are still of value.

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