Levels of mercury, cadmium, lead and other selected elements in canned tuna fish commercialised in Jordan

• Published in: International journal of environmental analytical chemistry Vol. 93; no. 7; pp. 755 - 766
• Main Authors: Ababneh, Fuad A, Al-Momani, Idrees F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01-06-2013; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Cadmium; canned tuna; Contaminants; Fish; Food additives; Food preservation; Guidelines; ICP OES; Intakes; Jordan; lead; Lead (metal); Marine; Mass spectrometry; Mercury; mercury analyser; risk; seafood; Trace elements; Tuna; Tunas; Jordan (country)
• ISSN: 1029-0397; 0306-7319; 1029-0397
• DOI: 10.1080/03067319.2012.672981

During 2010, the concentrations of mercury and eight other trace elements in 90 canned tuna samples commercialised in Jordan were determined using mercury analyser (Hydra C®) and the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The mean concentrations and ranges for elements analysed in mg kg⁻¹ (wet base) were as follows: total Hg (0.21; 0.06–0.57), Cd (0.06; < 0.01–0.63), Pb (0.09; <0.04–0.24), total As (0.74; 0.11–1.56), Ni (0.51; 0.03–2.85), V (0.04; <0.03–0.1), Al (0.26; 0.08–1.63), Ba (0.13; 0.05–0.42) and Ag was not detected in any of the analysed samples (<0.02 mg kg⁻¹). The data obtained in the present study compared well with data obtained from similar studies carried out in different parts of the world. Few samples had the mercury and cadmium levels slightly exceeding the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants draft guidelines. However, the estimated weekly intakes of these metals showed that there was no health risk associated with the consumption of the analysed canned tuna samples.