Document Detail


Human dietary exposure to heavy metals via the consumption of greenshell mussels (Perna canaliculus Gmelin 1791) from the Bay of Islands, northern New Zealand.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19419753     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and tin (Sn) concentrations were determined using ICP-MS in soft tissues (wet wt.) from whole greenshell mussels (Perna canaliculus) collected from Urapukapuka-Rawhiti Island, Opua Marina, Waitangi Bridge and Opua Wharf from the Bay of Islands, northern New Zealand (NZ). All samples had metal concentrations well below the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) maximum limits and were comparable to, or less than, concentrations observed in previous NZ studies. Based on the average values detected in the current study, the concentrations of heavy metals ingested in a 'typical diet' containing greenshell mussels are below the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). However, Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand), Pacific Islanders and Asians consume a far greater quantity of seafood (and therefore heavy metals) than the general public of New Zealand and could potentially consume enough shellfish to exceed the PTWI for Cd (but not for Hg, As, Pb or Sn). Although our results, based on the current PTWIs, indicate no significant health risk to greenshell mussel consumers in this region, PTWIs change over time; concentrations which were thought to be safe are later found to be harmful. Additionally, differences in individual human susceptibilities to various toxins could increase the risk of harm for consumers with low tolerance to heavy metals. We suggest that a survey of the frequency, amount and species consumed by groups whose diet may be largely shellfish-based is required to enable a more comprehensive risk assessment to be made.
Authors:
Adele L H Whyte; G Raumati Hook; Gail E Greening; Emma Gibbs-Smith; Jonathan P A Gardner
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-05-06
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Science of the total environment     Volume:  407     ISSN:  1879-1026     ISO Abbreviation:  Sci. Total Environ.     Publication Date:  2009 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-05-26     Completed Date:  2009-09-01     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0330500     Medline TA:  Sci Total Environ     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  4348-55     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Centre for Biodiscovery, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. Adele.Whyte@vuw.ac.nz
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Bivalvia / chemistry*
Humans
Metals, Heavy / analysis,  toxicity*
New Zealand
Risk Assessment
Seafood*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis,  toxicity*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Metals, Heavy; 0/Water Pollutants, Chemical

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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