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Total and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni): Health Risk Assessment

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Abstract

The concentrations of total mercury (THg) in different organs of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) collected from CCAMLR research blocks in Subarea 88.3 and Division 58.4.1 off the coast of Antarctica were determined. The results revealed THg concentrations of 0.165 ± 0.095 mg/kg (0.023–0.454 mg/kg, wet weight) in the Antarctic toothfish. In muscle, methyl mercury (MeHg) accounted for approximately 40% of the THg. In a comparison analysis, muscle and liver tended to bioaccumulate the highest levels of THg, and both THg and MeHg contents showed correlations with fish length and weight. Compared with international guidelines, fish contained 2.5–6.4% and 4.0–10.3% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake for THg recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and the tolerable weekly intake for MeHg proposed by the European Food Safety Authority, respectively. These results suggest that consumption of the Antarctic toothfish presents no health risk to humans.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Fisheries Science in Korea (R2018056).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Safety and Processing Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan, 46083, Republic of Korea

    Minchul Yoon, Mi Ra Jo, Poong Ho Kim, Woo Seok Choi, Hee Chung Lee & Jong Soo Mok

  2. South-East Sea Fisheries Research Institute, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Tongyeong, 53085, Republic of Korea

    Kwang Tae Son

  3. Department of Seafood and Aquaculture Science/Institute of Marine Industry, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyeong, 53063, Republic of Korea

    Sang In Kang

  4. Distant-Water Fisheries Resources Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan, 46083, Republic of Korea

    Seok Gwan Choi & Jong Hee Lee

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  1. Minchul Yoon
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  2. Mi Ra Jo
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Correspondence to Jong Soo Mok.

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Yoon, M., Jo, M.R., Kim, P.H. et al. Total and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni): Health Risk Assessment. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 100, 748–753 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2326-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2326-4

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