Dioxin and PCB contamination in Chinese mitten crabs: human consumption as a control mechanism for an invasive species.
The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis is an invasive species in North American and northeastern European rivers and estuaries, especially the Thames, England, with the potential to cause considerable ecological and structural environmental damage. The brown meat of sexually ripe mitten crabs is highly prized in far eastern restaurants, suggesting that harvesting for culinary purposes offers a potential population control mechanism. We have analyzed tissues of Thames and Dutch mitten crabs for potentially toxic dietary contaminants, showing that the brown meat contains raised concentrations of dioxins (polychlorinated dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans) and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), organochlorines which are chronic toxins. We have compared estimated daily intakes of these toxins by consumers of meals of mitten crab brown meat against their suggested European Tolerable Daily Intakes (TDI), concluding that a male adult or female beyond childbearing age could consume several portions per week derived from Thames crabs, but fewer from the Dutch crabs. With a caveat that excessive consumption of mitten crab brown meat could lead to exposures of potential concern, particularly in the case of children and women of child-bearing age, it does appear that the harvesting of mitten crabs from the Thames for culinary use need not be discouraged.
Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Paul F
PF
Clark
David N
DN
Mortimer
Robin J
RJ
Law
Jon M
JM
Averns
Bill A
BA
Cohen
David
D
Wood
Martin D
MD
Rose
Alwyn R
AR
Fernandes
Philip S
PS
Rainbow
D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D002681:China; D004032:Diet; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D045483:Rivers; D006113:United Kingdom
D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls