title: Levels of total mercury in predatory fish sold in Canada in 2005.
abstract: Total mercury was analysed in 188 samples of predatory fish purchased at the retail level in Canada in 2005. The average concentrations (ng g(-1), range) were: sea bass 329 (38-1367), red snapper 148 (36-431), orange roughy 543 (279-974), fresh water trout 55 (20-430), grouper 360 (8-1060), black cod 284 (71-651), Arctic char 37 (28-54), king fish 440 (42-923), tilefish 601 (79-1164) and marlin 854 (125-2346). The Canadian standard for maximum total mercury allowed in the edible portions of fish sold at the retail level is 1000 ng g(-1) for shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar and both fresh and frozen tuna. The standard is 500 ng g(-1) for all other types of fish. In this study, despite the small number of samples of each species, the 1000 ng g(-1) maximum was exceeded in five samples of marlin (28%). The 500 ng g(-1) maximum was exceeded by six samples of sea bass (20%), four of tilefish (50%), five of grouper (24%), six of king fish (40%) and one of black cod (13%).
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. bob.dabeka@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Dabeka
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Forsyth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000592:standards; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007881:Legislation, Food; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury