Abstract
The aim of this work was to determine the concentrations of some essential and toxic elements in the muscle of ten species of commercial fish consumed in Portugal. We combined two different techniques for determination of the elements—energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to quantify K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Se, Rb, and Sr and flame atomic-absorption spectrometry for analysis of Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Hg, and Pb. The latter technique was used because of its higher sensitivity, because these elements were not detected by EDXRF. The results obtained show a similar pattern for the trace elements. K and Ca are present at the highest concentrations in all the samples studied, from 0.6–1.3% and from 0.04–0.08%, respectively, followed by Zn, Fe, Sr, Se, and Rb. Sr is present at higher concentrations than Rb in all the species studied except meagre. Concentrations of the elements in octopus do not follow this pattern—Fe is present at a higher concentration than Zn. Low concentrations of Cr (0.66–1.5 μg g−1), Ni (0.11–0.24 μg g−1), Cd (0.01–0.08 μg g−1), Hg (0.49–2.74 μg g−1), and Pb (0.02–0.06 μg g−1) were observed in all the samples analysed. The concentration of Hg was highest in Helicolenus dactylopterus—5.4 μg g−1 in one sample.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belitz HD, Grosch W (1999) Food chemistry. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 992–998
Simopolpoulos AP (1997) Seafood from producer to consumer: natural aspects of the fish. In: Lutten JB, Borresen T, Oehlenschläger J (eds) Elsevier, Amsterdam, vol 38, pp 587–607
Huss HH (1995) Quality and quantity changes in fresh fish, FAO Fisheries Technical Paper, vol 348. FAO, Rome, p 195
Lall SP, Ruiter A (1995) Cab International Editors, Wallingford, pp 187–213
Norma Portuguesa, Instit Portug Qualidade (1988) NP 2032; 2928
Rindby A (1989) X Ray Spectrom 18:113–118
Carvalho ML, Ferreira JG, Amorim P, Marques MI, Ramos MT (1997) Environ Toxicol Chem 16: 807–812
Sidwell VD, Loomis AL, Loomis KJ, Foncannon PR, Buzzel DH (1978) Mar Fish Rev 40:1–20
Oehlenschläger J (1997) Seafood from producer to consumer: marine fish—a source for essential elements. In: Lutten JB, Borresen T, Oehlenschläger J (eds) Elsevier, Amsterdam, vol 38, pp 587–607
Miramand P, Bentley D (1992) Mar Biol 114:407–414
Vas P, Gordon JDM (1993) Mar Poll Bull 26:400–402
El Nabawi A, Heinzow B, Kruse H (1987) Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 39:889–893
Prudente M, Kim EY, Tanabe S, Tatsukawa R (1997) Mar Pollut Bulletin 34:671–674
Cronin M, Davies IM, Newton A, Pirie JM, Topping G, Swan S (1998) Mar Environ Res 45:225–229
Diaz-Alarcón JP, Navarro-Alarcón M, López-Martínez MC, Serrana HLG (1994) J Agric Food Chem 42:334–337
Koeman JH, Peeters WHM, Koudstaal-Hol CHM, Tjioe PS Goeij JJM (1973) Nature 245:385–386
Carvalho ML, Pereira RA, Brito J (2002) Sci Total Environ 292:247–254
Belitz HD, Grosch W (1999) Food chemistry, 2nd edn. Springer Ed, Germany, p 992
Bowen HJM (1979) Environmental chemistry elements. Academic, London
Carvalho ML, Casaca C, Pinheiro T, Marques JP, Chevallier P Cunha AS (2000) Nucl Instrum Meth B 168:559–565
Fergusson JE (1990) The heavy elements: chemistry, environmental impact and health effects. Pergamon Press, Oxford, p 614
Monteiro LR, Lopes HD (1990) Mar pollut Bull 21:407–414
Pigot GM, Tucker BW (1990) Seafood: effects of technology on nutrition. Marcel Decker, New York, p 362
Varo P (1992) Fish as food. Nordiske Seminar, Arbejdsrapporter. Nordisk Ministerräd, Kobenhavn, pp 57–64
Fraústo da Silva JJR, Williams RJP (1997) The biological chemistry of the elements. Oxford University Press, New York
Bruland KW, Franks RP (1983) NATO conference series. Trace metals in Sea water, series IV. Plenum, New York, pp 395–414
Cotté-Krief MH, Guieu C, Thomas A (2000) In: Martin JM (ed) Mar Chem 71:199–214
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carvalho, M.L., Santiago, S. & Nunes, M.L. Assessment of the essential element and heavy metal content of edible fish muscle. Anal Bioanal Chem 382, 426–432 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-004-3005-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-004-3005-3