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Contamination of Fishery Products with Mercury, Cadmium, and Lead in Tunisia: Level’s Estimation and Human Health Risk Assessment

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Abstract

The levels of metallic trace elements were determined in fishery products sampled from Tunisian fishing ports. Mean concentrations were 0.20 ± 0.01, 0.05 ± 0.01, and 0.10 ± 0.01 mg/kg in fish flesh for Hg, Cd, and Pb, respectively. The mean concentrations of these elements were below regulatory thresholds; however, we also detected some specimens with higher levels. The mercury level showed a significant difference between fish categories, region, and year of sampling (p < 0.05). Samples from the center sites had the highest levels of Pb (0.17 ± 0.03 mg/kg; range 0.10; 0.22 mg/kg). Temporal analysis of Pb showed a significant difference between sampling year (p < 0.05). In addition, distribution among fish categories was statistically significant (p = 0.046). The rates of samples exceeding limits of Hg, Cd, and Pb were 5.3, 2.6, and 0.4%, respectively. Through the above results, the maximum weekly and monthly intakes for fish flesh consumption could not exceed the set limits. These data were important to inform consumers about fish content and the risk generated by some of these species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mrs. Salma Masmoudi (Central Laboratory of Analysis and Tests, Tunisia) for her technical support.

Funding

This work was supported by the General Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Hydraulic Ressources, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia.

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Author notes

  1. Safa Amairia

    Present address: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Microbiologie Alimentaire, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia

    Samia Zrelli, Walid Oueslati & Roua Ghorbel

  2. Direction Générale des Services Vétérinaires, 1002, Tunis, Tunisia

    Mohamed Chaabouni, Olfa Chine, Amira Nachi Mkaouar & Malek Zrelli

  3. Division Pêche et Aquaculture, Commissariat Régional au Développement, Agricole, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Ali Cheikhsbouii

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Contributions

Samia Zrelli, Safa Amairia: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing—original draft; Mohamed Chaabouni: methodology; Walid Oueslati: investigation; Olfa Chine, Amira Nachi Mkaouar, Ali Cheikhsbouii: resources; Roua Ghorbel: data curation; Malek Zrelli: supervision

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Correspondence to Samia Zrelli.

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The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data. There are no ethical concerns to be reported and fishery products were not alive at sampling time. In addition, international methods standards have been met, during fishing.

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Zrelli, S., Amairia, S., Chaabouni, M. et al. Contamination of Fishery Products with Mercury, Cadmium, and Lead in Tunisia: Level’s Estimation and Human Health Risk Assessment. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 721–731 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02179-8

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