Journal of Environmental Biology

Distribution of heavy metals in internal organs and tissues of Korean molluscan shellfish and potential risk to human health

Jong Soo Mok¹*, Ji Young Kwon², Kwang Tae Son², Woo Seok Choi², Poong Ho Kim¹, Tae Seek Lee² and Ji Hoe Kim²

¹Southeast Sea Fisheries Research Institute, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 361,

Youngun-ri, Sanyang-up, Tongyoung 650-943, Republic of Korea

²Food Safety Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 408-1, Sirang-ri, Gijang-up,

Gijang-gun, Busan 619-705, Republic of Korea

*Corresponding Author E-mail : mjs0620@korea.kr

Publication Data

Paper received:

03 July 2014

Revised received:

29 January 2015

Accepted:

20 March 2015

Abstract

Molluscan shellfish (gastropods and bivalves) were collected from major fish markets on the Korean coast and analyzed for mercury by direct Hg analyzer and for other metals, such as cadmium, lead, chromium, silver, nickel, copper and zinc, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Distribution of heavy metals in muscles, internal organs and whole tissues were determined and a potential risk assessment was conducted to evaluate their hazard for human consumption. Heavy metals were accumulated significantly higher (P < 0.05) in internal organs than in muscles for all species. The mean Cd level, which had the highest level of three hazardous metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg) in all internal-organ samples were above the regulatory limit of Korea and the mean level in whole tissue samples of the selected gastropod species, bay scallop and comb pen shell, exceeded the limit (except in a few cases). The sum of the estimated dietary intake of Cd, Pb and Hg for each part of all tested species accounted for 1.59-16.94, 0.02-0.36, and 0.07-0.16% respectively, of the provisional tolerable daily intake adopted by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. The hazard index for each part of gastropods and bivalves was below 1.0, however, the maximum HI for internal organs of all analysed species was quite high (0.71). These results suggest that consumption of flesh after removing the internal organs of some molluscan shellfish (all gastropod species, bay scallop and comb pen shell) is a suitable way for reducing Cd exposure. ?   

 Key words

Distribution, Heavy metal, Korea, Molluscan shellfish, Risk assessment

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