Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Mercury in Smoked Catfish: A Case Study

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and mercury were investigated in smoked catfish illegally sold and confiscated by Italian authorities in Turin (North-western Italy). The mean benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) concentration was 73 ± 11 μg kg−1 and the total mean PAH concentration (ΣPAH) was 243 ± 38 μg kg−1, both exceeding the EU maximum limits (2.0 and 12 μg/kg) set in muscle of smoked fish and fishery products. Mercury was recovered at 0.59 ± 0.09 mg kg−1 d.w. Poor smoking treatment performed in street food by ethnic minorities can expose these groups of population to serious health risks. PAH food contamination poses particular concern for the populations who traditionally consume these products, such as African communities. There is an urgent need to take appropriate action and raise awareness of risk among exposed population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Data supporting the findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  • Abdel-Shafy, H. I., & Mansour, M. S. M. (2016). A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Source, environmental impact, effect on human health and remediation. Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 25, 107–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asamoah, E. K., Nunoo, F. K. E., Addo, S., Nyarko, J. O., & Hyldig, G. (2021). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish smoked using traditional and improved kilns: Levels and human health risk implications through dietary exposure in Ghana. Food Control, 121, 107576.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, L. M., Osano, O., Hecky, R. E., & Dixon, D. G. (2003). Mercury in fish from three rift valley lakes (Turkana, Naivasha and Baringo), Kenya, East Africa. Environmental Pollution, 125, 281–286.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), (2009). Code of practice for the reduction of contamination of food with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from smoking and direct drying processes. CAC/RCP, 68.

  • Desta, Z., Borgstrøm, R., Rosseland, B. O., & Dadebo, E. (2007). Lower than expected mercury concentration in piscivorous African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). Science of the Total Environment, 376(1–3), 134–142.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Directorate-General Health and Consumer Protection, (2004) “Collection of occurrence data on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food,” in Reports on Tasks for Scientific Cooperation. Report of Experts Participating in Task 3.2.12. 2004, pp. 1–36, EFSA Publication, Parma, Italy.

  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). (2008). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food. Scientific opinion of the panel on contaminants in the food chain adopted on 9 June 2008. EFSA Journal, 724, 1–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Essumang, D. K., Dodoo, D. K., & Adjei, J. K. (2013). Effect of smoke generation sources and smoke curing duration on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in different suites of fish. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 58, 86–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essumang, D. K., Dodoo, D. K., & Adjei, J. K. (2014). Effective reduction of PAH contamination in smoke cured fish products using charcoal filters in a modified traditional kiln. Food Control, 35(1), 85–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, P., da Silva, E., Hou, L., Denslow, N. D., Xiang, P., & Ma, L. Q. (2018). Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Metabolomics perspective. Environment International, 119, 466–477.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gebremedhin, K., & Berhanu, T. (2015). Determination of some selected heavy metals in fish and water samples from Hawassa and Ziway Lakes. Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry., 3, 10–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Estaca, J., Gómez-Guillén, M. C., Montero, P., Sopelana, P., & Guillén, M. D. (2011). Oxidative stability, volatile components and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of cold-smoked sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus). LWT - Food Science and Technology, 44, 1517–1524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hokkanen, M., Luhtasela, U., Kostamo, P., Ritvanen, T., Peltonen, K., & Jestoi, M. (2018). Critical effects of smoking parameters on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in traditionally smoked fish and meat products in Finland. Journal of Chemistry, 2018, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igwe, J.C., Odo, E.O., Okereke, S.E., Asuqou, E.E., Nnorom, I.C., Okpareke, O.C. (2012). Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in some fish samples from Mushin area of Lagos, Nigeria: Effects of smoking, Terrestrial Aquat. Environment Toxicology 6 (1), 2012) 30–35.

  • Ingenbleek, L., Veyrand, B., Adegboye, A., Hossou, S. E., Koné, A. Z., Oyedele, A. D., et al. (2019). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foods from the first regional total diet study in Sub-Saharan Africa: contamination profile and occurrence data. Food Control, 103, 133–144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kassegne, A. B., Okonkwo, J. O., Esho, T. B., Mekonnen, K. N., Malehase, T., & Asfaw, S. L. (2018). Distribution of total mercury in surface sediments and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from Akaki River catchment and Aba Samuel Reservoir, downstream to the mega-city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Emerging Contaminants, 4, 32–39.

  • Mahugija, J. A. M., & Njale, E. (2018). Effects of washing on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contents in smoked fish. Food Control, 93, 139–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phelps, D. W., Fletcher, A. A., Rodriguez-Nunez, I., Balik-Meisner, M. R., Tokarz, D. A., Reif, D. M., Germolec, D. R., & Yoder, J. A. (2020). In vivo assessment of respiratory burst inhibition by xenobiotic exposure using larval zebrafish. Journal of Immunotoxicology, 17, 94–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SCF (Scientific Committee on Food) (2002). Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food on the risks to human health of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food expressed on 4th December 2002. Brussels: European Commission, European Commission, Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General, 2002 SCF/CS/CNTM/PAH/29 Final.

  • Silva, B. O., Adetunde, O. T., Oluseyi, T. O., Olayinka, K. O., & Alo, B. I. (2011). Effects of the methods of smoking on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)in some locally consumed fishes in Nigeria. African Journal of Food Science, 5(7), 384–391.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Squadrone, S., Chiaravalle, E., Gavinelli, S., Monaco, G., Rizzi, M., & Abete, M. C. (2015). Analysis of mercury and methylmercury concentrations, and selenium: Mercury molar ratios for a toxicological assessment of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the most recent stranding event along the Adriatic coast (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea). Chemosphere, 138, 633–641

  • Straaten, P. V. (2000). Human exposure to mercury due to small scale gold mining in northern Tanzania. Science of the Total Environment, 259, 45–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tongo, I., Ogbeide, O., & Ezemonye, L. (2017). Human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked fish species from markets in Southern Nigeria. Toxicology Reports, 4, 55–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yusuf, K. A., Ezechukwu, L. N., Fakoya, K. A., Akintola, L. S., Agboola, J. I., & Omoleye, T. O. (2015). Influence of fish smoking methods on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content and possible risks to human health. Africa Journal Food Science, 9(3), 126–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ubwa, S. T., Ubwa, A., & J., Tarzaa, L, Tyohemba R. L., Ahile, U. J. . (2015). Effects of Traditional Smoking Methods on the Concentrations of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Some Species of Smoked Fish Traded in Benue State Nigeria. Journal of Food Research, 4, 2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2010). Some non-heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some related exposures. IARC Monography Evaluation Carcinogenesis Risks Human, 92, 1–853. Available from: http://publications.iarc.fr/110.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy

    Stefania Squadrone, Paola Brizio & Maria Cesarina Abete

  2. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e Della Toscana, via Appia Nuova 1411, Roma, Italy

    Fabio Busico & Bruno Neri

Authors
  1. Stefania Squadrone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paola Brizio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maria Cesarina Abete
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fabio Busico
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bruno Neri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study. Material preparation, data collection, methodology optimization, and chemical analysis were performed by Fabio Busico and Paola Brizio. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Stefania Squadrone. Activity planning and execution were in charge of Stefania Squadrone and Bruno Neri. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript. Review and editing of the final manuscript were performed by Stefania Squadrone. Supervision was performed by Maria Cesarina Abete and Bruno Neri. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefania Squadrone.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval, Consent for Participation, and Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Squadrone, S., Brizio, P., Abete, M.C. et al. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Mercury in Smoked Catfish: A Case Study. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 252 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05204-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05204-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation