title: Evaluation of mercury levels in pangasius and cod fillets traded in Sicily (Italy).
abstract: Predator fishes at the top of the aquatic food chain can accumulate large concentrations of metals and their consumption, consequently, makes a significant contribution, in particular, to mercury intake. The aim of this study was to determine mercury levels in fillets of two predatory species: pangasius (Pangasius hypophthalmus) from the Vietnam region of Megong and Chao Pharayai and cod (Gadus morhua) from the Baltic and North Sea, both being commercially important in the Italian market. A comparative analysis of these two imported fish species was carried out as a risk assessment for consumer safety. The results showed the presence of higher mercury levels in pangasius (0.41 ± 0.08 mg kg(-1)) than in cod (0.11 ± 0.004 mg kg(-1)) fillets. These data underline the importance of monitoring on imported fish before marketing, to evaluate better the risk of mercury exposure through fish and seafood consumption, and of selecting safer fishes for consumption by those groups more sensitive to the toxic effects of this metal.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Zooprophylaxy of Sicily A. Mirri, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferrantelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giangrosso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naccari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macaluso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galvano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Orazio
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Arcadipane
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naccari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D012802:Sicily
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury