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Selenium and Mercury in Pelagic Fish in the Central North Pacific Near Hawaii

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Abstract

Protective effects of selenium against mercury toxicity have been demonstrated in all animal models evaluated. As interactions between selenium and mercury and their molar ratios in seafood are essential factors in evaluating risks associated with dietary mercury exposure, considering mercury content alone is inadequate. In this study, the absolute and molar concentrations of mercury and selenium were determined in edible portions from 420 individual fish representing 15 species of pelagic fish collected from the central North Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. Selenium was in molar excess of mercury in almost all fish species evaluated. The rank order of mean Se/Hg molar ratios was striped marlin (17.6) > yellowfin tuna (14.1) > mahimahi (13.1) > skipjack tuna (12.8) > spearfish (11.4) > wahoo (10.8) > sickle pomfret (6.7) > albacore tuna (5.3) > bigeye tuna (5.2) > blue marlin (4.1) > escolar (2.4) > opah (2.3) > thresher shark (1.5) > swordfish (1.2) > mako shark (0.5). With a Se/Hg molar ratio of less than 1, mako shark was the only fish containing a net molar excess of mercury. A selenium health benefit value based on the absolute amounts and relative proportions of selenium and mercury in seafood is proposed as a more comprehensive seafood safety criterion.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Hawaii Longline Association and the management of the Honolulu Fish Auction operated by the United Fishing Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii, for their support and cooperation in obtaining fish samples. This study was supported by NOAA Award No. NA05NMF4521112 to PacMar, Honolulu, Hawaii.

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  1. PacMar Inc., 3615 Harding Ave, Suite 409, Honolulu, HI, 96816, USA

    J. John Kaneko

  2. Energy and Environmental Research Center, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA

    Nicholas V. C. Ralston

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Correspondence to J. John Kaneko.

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Kaneko, J.J., Ralston, N.V.C. Selenium and Mercury in Pelagic Fish in the Central North Pacific Near Hawaii. Biol Trace Elem Res 119, 242–254 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-8004-8

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