title: Heavy metal accumulation and toxicity in smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus) shark from Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa.
abstract: Together with several health benefits, fish meat could introduce toxins to consumers in the form of heavy metal contaminants. High levels of mercury (Hg), especially, are frequently detected in certain predatory fish species. Mustelus mustelus fillets were analysed for 16 metals and three individual Hg species (inorganic Hg, ehtylmercury, methylmercury) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and HPLC-ICP-MS respectively. Eleven of the 30 sharks had total Hg levels above the maximum allowable limit with toxic methylmercury found as the dominant mercury species with a strong correlation (r = 0.97; p < 0.001) to total mercury concentrations. Limited correlations between metals and shark size parameters were observed; therefore metal accumulation in M. mustelus is mostly independent of size/age. Average values for arsenic (28.31 ± 18.79 mg/kg) exceed regulatory maximum limits and Hg (0.96 ± 0.69 mg/kg) is close to the maximum limit with all other metals well below maximum limits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: Adina C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gunnar O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Sigge
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay 8012, South Africa; Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kerwath
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. Electronic address: lch@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Louwrens C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005399:Fishes; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012754:Sharks; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; HPLC–ICP-MS; Heavy metals; ICP-MS; Mercury; Mercury speciation; Methylmercury; Mustelus mustelus; Regulatory limits; Shark meat