Essential and non-essential elements in eight tissue types from subsistence-hunted bowhead whale: nutritional and toxicological assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess essential/non-essential elements in bowhead whale.


METHODS
Analyzes of tissues for key elements and comparing them to published food guidelines.


METHODS
Using national and international guidelines calculate percent (%) "Recommended Daily Allowance" of essential elements in 100 g portion of bowhead tissues. For non-essential elements, determine maximal tissue consumption based on average element concentrations and provisional tolerable weekly intake; and minimal risk level.


RESULTS
Liver and kidney are rich in essential/non-essential elements and have the greatest concentration of cadmium (Cd) among tissues studied, while mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) are relatively low. Kidney of bowhead whale is consumed in very limited amounts (limited tissue mass compared to muscle and maktak); liver is consumed rarely. Other tissues, except blubber, are excellent sources of many essential elements, without the abundance of liver and kidney Cd.


CONCLUSIONS
Renal Cd concentrations are most restrictive for consumption on a tissue mass basis. Better understanding of Cd bioavailability, food processing, and actual consumption rates and patterns, are critical to providing improved guidance. Compared to store-bought meat, bowhead whale had comparable concentrations of elements in the tissues studied, with a few noted differences. The occasional blubber substitute, Crisco, was nearly devoid of trace element content.
O'Hara
Todd M
TM
Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough, Barrow, USA. fftmo@uaf.edu
Hanns
Cyd
C
Bratton
Gerald
G
Taylor
Robert
R
Woshner
Victoria M
VM
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D050642:Bowhead Whale / Q000378:metabolism*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry; D009753:Nutritive Value; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D008670:Metals