Total Mercury Levels in Muscle Tissue of Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the Mediterranean Sea (Italy)

2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 1058-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. STORELLI ◽  
G. O. MARCOTRIGIANO
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Commission Decision ◽  
Xiphias Gladius ◽  
The Mediterranean

This study was carried out to determine the current levels of total mercury in the muscle tissue of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in the Mediterranean Sea with the purpose of ascertaining whether the concentrations exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission Decision. In addition, specimens of each species were divided into different ranges of weight to investigate the influence of size on mercury accumulation in order to provide data upon which commercial fishing strategies and marketing of swordfish and bluefin tuna may be based. Higher mean levels of total mercury were found in bluefin tuna (1.02 μg g−1 wet wt) than in swordfish (0.49 μg g−1 wet wt). In 4.3% of swordfish and in 44.3% of bluefin tuna analyzed, total mercury concentrations exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission Decision (Hg = 1 μg g−1 wet wt). Besides, for bluefin tuna the total mercury level variability observed, due to size, suggests that there should be greater regulatory control by the authorities.

scholarly journals Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) farmed in the Adriatic Sea

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 175-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Srebocan ◽  
J. Pompe-Gotal ◽  
A. Prevendar-Crnic ◽  
E. Ofner
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Liver Tissue ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Commission Decision ◽  
Wet Weight

Levels of total mercury in the muscle (29 samples) and liver tissue (15 samples) of bluefin tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i>) weighing 100&minus;300 kg were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy. Tunas were previously captured in the waters of Malta, towed to the farm in the Adriatic Sea and fattened with defrosted herring and sardine for the period of 6 to 7 months. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the magnitude of mercury contamination and to ascertain whether the concentrations in muscle tissue exceeded the maximum level defined by the European Commission Decision (1 &mu;g/g wet weight). Total mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue of tunas ranged from 0.49 to 1.809 (median 0.899 &mu;g/g wet weight) while in the liver tissue it was from 0.324 to 3.248 (median 1.165 &mu;g/g wet weight). Total mercury concentrations in six samples of sardine ranged from 0.050 to 0.072 &mu;g/g wet weight while two samples of herring contained 0.020 and 0.053 &mu;g/g wet weight. Twelve out of 29 (41%) muscle samples of tuna contained mercury above the maximum level defined by the European Commission Decision. It is generally believed that mercury levels in Mediterranean fish are higher than those of the other seas or oceans due to numerous deposits of mercury ores and metallic mercury in surrounding countries.

Total Mercury and Methylmercury Content in Edible Fish from the Mediterranean Sea

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. STORELLI ◽  
R. GIACOMINELLI STUFFLER ◽  
A. STORELLI ◽  
G. O. MARCOTRIGIANO
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
World Health ◽  
Expert Committee ◽  
Blue Whiting ◽  
Commission Decision ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mediterranean

The objective of this study was to determine the current levels of total mercury and methyl mercury in the muscle tissues of different fish species caught in the Mediterranean Sea to ascertain whether these concentrations exceed the maximum level stipulated by the European Commission Decision. Total mercury concentrations in the muscles of skates ranged from 0.18 to 1.85 mg/kg (wet weight) (average, 1.00 mg/kg) while levels of 0.11 to 1.92 mg/kg (wet weight) (average, 0.70 mg/kg) and 0.21 to 1.74 mg/kg (wet weight) (average, 0.70 mg/kg) were recorded for blue whiting and red mullet, respectively. For 66.7% of long nose skate samples, 61.4% of thornback ray samples, 42.8% of winter skate samples, and 38% of starry ray samples, the total mercury concentrations exceeded the prescribed legal limit (1.0 mg/kg [wet weight]). Concentrations exceeding the maximum total mercury level stipulated by the European Commission Decision (0.5 mg/kg [wet weight]) were observed in 63.6 and 40% of blue whiting and striped mullet samples, respectively. Mercury was present in the different species almost completely in the methylated form at 55 to 100%. Weekly intakes were estimated and compared with the provisional tolerable weekly intake recommended by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives.

HCB,p,p‘-DDE and PCB Ontogenetic Transfer and Magnification in Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the Mediterranean Sea

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 4227-4233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simonetta Corsolini ◽  
Gianluca Sarà ◽  
Nicoletta Borghesi ◽  
Silvano Focardi
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Electronic Tagging of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus, L.) Reveals Habitat Use and Behaviors in the Mediterranean Sea

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e0116638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Cermeño ◽  
Gemma Quílez-Badia ◽  
Andrés Ospina-Alvarez ◽  
Susana Sainz-Trápaga ◽  
Andre M. Boustany ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Electronic Tagging

Spatial–temporal pattern of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. 1758) gonad maturation across the Mediterranean Sea

2008 ◽  
Vol 154 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilad Heinisch ◽  
Aldo Corriero ◽  
Antonio Medina ◽  
Francisco J. Abascal ◽  
Jose-Miguel de la Serna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Temporal Pattern ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Gonad Maturation ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Indices of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus) abundance derived from sale records of French purse seine catches in the Mediterranean sea

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 329-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Labelle ◽  
Thierry Hoch ◽  
Bernard Liorzou ◽  
Jean-Louis Bigot
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Purse Seine ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
The Mediterranean

Food safety using NMR-based metabolomics: Assessment of the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, from the Mediterranean Sea

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 391-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiziana Cappello ◽  
Alessia Giannetto ◽  
Vincenzo Parrino ◽  
Giuseppe De Marco ◽  
Angela Mauceri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ◽  
The Mediterranean

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) Farming and Fattening in the Mediterranean Sea

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantinos C. Mylonas ◽  
Fernando De La Gándara ◽  
Aldo Corriero ◽  
Antonio Belmonte Ríos
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ◽  
The Mediterranean
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