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. 2019 Apr 1;24(7):1273.
doi: 10.3390/molecules24071273.

Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. ) Muscle

Anna Annibaldi  1 , Cristina Truzzi  2 , Oliana Carnevali  3 , Paolo Pignalosa  4 , Martina Api  5 , Giuseppe Scarponi  6 , Silvia Illuminati  7
Affiliations

Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. ) Muscle

Anna Annibaldi et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a well-known toxic element, diffused in the environment, especially in the Mediterranean Sea which is rich in cinnabar deposits. Mercury bioaccumulation in fish is of great concern, especially for top-level aquatic predators (e.g., shark, tuna, swordfish) and above all for species of large human consumption and high nutritional value. This work aimed to determine Hg concentrations in farmed and wild Atlantic Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in the Mediterranean area in order to evaluate the level of Hg bioaccumulation. selenium (Se) content was also determined, since this element is an antagonist of mercury toxicity. Mercury and Se were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion of the samples. Hg content in farmed tuna was below the legal limit (1 mg/kg, wet weight, w.w.) for all specimens (0.6 ± 0.2 mg/kg), whereas the wild ones had a content over the limit (1.7 ± 0.6 mg/kg); Se concentration was higher in farmed specimens (1.1 ± 0.9 mg/kg) compared to wild ones (0.6 ± 0.3 mg/kg). A safe seafood could show a Se/Hg ratio >1 and a health benefit value (HBVSe) > 0: farmed tuna had higher values than the wild specimens (Se/Hg 5.48 vs. 1.32; HBVSe 11.16 vs. 0.29). These results demonstrate that for Hg, there is a better risk/benefit ratio in farmed T. thynnus. making it safer than wild tuna.

Keywords: Atlantic bluefin tuna; Mediterranean Sea; atomic absorption spectroscopy; health benefit value; mercury; selenium.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of tuna sampling in different areas of the Mediterranean Sea: (A), tuna farmed in fish farm Fish and Fish (Malta); (B), wild tuna Carloforte tonnare (Carloforte, CA, Sardinia, Italy).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationship between Hg concentration (mg/kg w.w.) and body weight (kg) in farmed tuna.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationship between Hg concentration (mg/kg w.w.) and body weight (kg) in wild tuna.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Boxplots of Se:Hg molar ratio in farmed and wild tuna.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Boxplots of HBVSe molar ratio in farmed and wild tuna.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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