3RD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON TECHNOLOGY - ENGINEERING & SCIENCE - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2017-02-09)

Levels Of Mercury In Persian Gulf Frozen Fish Species
Severe discharge of sewage and industrial effluents into the Persian Gulf causes contamination of various types of heavy metals in the muscles of marine animals. Total mercury and methyl-mercury contents were determined in the edible parts (muscle tissue, fillet) of two different mostly popular frozen fish species from the Persian Gulf to ascertain whether the concentrations exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission. During the period of October 2015 to June 2016, a total of 150 frozen fish packaged samples from the recognized supermarkets were randomly collected in the Tehran province, Iran. The mercury (Hg) concentration of samples was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer using a mercuric hydride system (MHS 10) and also by direct mercury analyzer (DMA). High concentration of total Hg was found in brand of Carcharhinus dussumie (0.91 ± 0.12 μg/g) while the lowest level was detected in Pomadasys furcatus (0.29 ± 0.02 μg/g). Mean Hg levels in fish samples were 0.79 ± 0.11 μg/g which means studied frozen fish in current study from Persian Gulf had mean mercury concentrations above 0.5 μg/g, which is the maximum standard level recommended by Joint FAO/WHO/Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). In 13% of Pomadasys furcatus and in 47.2 % of Carcharhinus dussumie fish samples total mercury concentrations exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission. All samples had also mean Hg concentrations that exceeded EPA's established safety level of 0.3 μg/g. A little more extensive analysis of data showed that weekly intake of mercury for the proportion of the Iranian population consuming Hg contaminated fish is not predicted to exceed the respective provisional tolerable weekly intakes recommended by JECFA. However, the Iranian health and environmental authorities should monitor Hg contamination of the fishes before marketing.
Parisa Ziarati, Fatemehsadat Mirmohammad Makki, Mahtab Alimardan