Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) Muscle
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...
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MDPI AG
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/7/1273 |
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| author | Anna Annibaldi Cristina Truzzi Oliana Carnevali Paolo Pignalosa Martina Api Giuseppe Scarponi Silvia Illuminati |
| author_facet | Anna Annibaldi Cristina Truzzi Oliana Carnevali Paolo Pignalosa Martina Api Giuseppe Scarponi Silvia Illuminati |
| author_sort | Anna Annibaldi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i>) 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 (HBV<sub>Se</sub>) > 0: farmed tuna had higher values than the wild specimens (Se/Hg 5.48 vs. 1.32; HBV<sub>Se</sub> 11.16 vs. 0.29). These results demonstrate that for Hg, there is a better risk/benefit ratio in farmed <i>T. thynnus</i>. making it safer than wild tuna. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:31:18Z |
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| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:31:18Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f05c13909504cf2b282986abeb2bc9c2022-12-22T01:00:04ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492019-04-01247127310.3390/molecules24071273molecules24071273Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) MuscleAnna Annibaldi0Cristina Truzzi1Oliana Carnevali2Paolo Pignalosa3Martina Api4Giuseppe Scarponi5Silvia Illuminati6Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyOceansis s.r.l., 80056 Ercolano NA, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyMercury (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 (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i>) 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 (HBV<sub>Se</sub>) > 0: farmed tuna had higher values than the wild specimens (Se/Hg 5.48 vs. 1.32; HBV<sub>Se</sub> 11.16 vs. 0.29). These results demonstrate that for Hg, there is a better risk/benefit ratio in farmed <i>T. thynnus</i>. making it safer than wild tuna.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/7/1273Atlantic bluefin tunaMediterranean Seaseleniummercuryatomic absorption spectroscopyhealth benefit value |
| spellingShingle | Anna Annibaldi Cristina Truzzi Oliana Carnevali Paolo Pignalosa Martina Api Giuseppe Scarponi Silvia Illuminati Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) Muscle Molecules Atlantic bluefin tuna Mediterranean Sea selenium mercury atomic absorption spectroscopy health benefit value |
| title | Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) Muscle |
| title_full | Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) Muscle |
| title_fullStr | Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) Muscle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) Muscle |
| title_short | Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (<i>Thunnus thynnus</i> L.) Muscle |
| title_sort | determination of hg in farmed and wild atlantic bluefin tuna i thunnus thynnus i l muscle |
| topic | Atlantic bluefin tuna Mediterranean Sea selenium mercury atomic absorption spectroscopy health benefit value |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/7/1273 |
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