title: Mercury concentrations in Northwest Atlantic winter-caught, male spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias): A geographic mercury comparison and risk-reward framework for human consumption.
abstract: Mercury (Hg) contamination testing was conducted on winter-caught male spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in southern New England and results compared to available data on Hg concentrations for this species. A limited risk-reward assessment for EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid) lipid concentrations of spiny dogfish was completed in comparison with other commonly consumed marine fish. Mean Hg concentrations were 0.19 ppm (±0.30) wet weight. In comparison, mean Hg concentrations in S. acanthias varied geographically ranging from 0.05 ppm (Celtic Sea) to 2.07 ppm (Crete, Mediterranean Sea). A risk-reward assessment for Hg and DHA+EPA placed S. acanthias in both "low-risk, high-reward" and "high-risk, high-reward" categories for consumption dependent on locations of the catch. Our results are limited and are not intended as consumption advisories but serve to illustrate the need for making more nuanced, geo-specific, consumption guidance for spiny dogfish that is inclusive of seafood traceability and nutritional benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Science Center, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA. Electronic address: astgelais@une.edu.
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: St Gelais
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Science Center, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA. Electronic address: bcostapierce@une.edu.
authors.forename: Barry A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Costa-Pierce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005843:Geography; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009511:New England; D012306:Risk; D017747:Seafood; D012621:Seasons; D048251:Squalus acanthias / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury
keywords: Consumption; Mercury; Northwest Atlantic ocean; Risk; Spiny dogfish