Abstract Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element and has no known biological functions in humans. This study measured total Hg and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in commonly consumed fish and seafood as well as to estimate the risk of Hg contamination through seafood consumption by Malaysians. The concentrations of total Hg and MeHg in 8 species of crustaceans ( n = 15), 5 species of cephalopods ( n = 12), and 29 species of fish ( n = 78) from West Peninsular Malaysia are reported. Total mercury concentrations in crustaceans, cephalopods and fish were 0.033 ± 0.033 μg/g, 0.040 ± 0.025 μg/g and 0.106 ± 0.128 μg/g wet weight respectively. The proportion of methyl mercury in fish was 81–99% with a mean of 93 ± 5% (n = 15). Significantly higher mercury concentrations were observed in demersal fish, fish on higher trophic level and fish with body length of >20 cm. All fish and seafood were below the Malaysian Food Regulations of 0.5 μg/g wet weight mercury for fish and fishery products and 1.0 μg/g wet weight mercury for predatory fish. The consumption of fish from certain seafood species, however, should be taken into consideration to ensure that the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of MeHg does not exceed 1.6 μg/kg body weight/week.

中文翻译：

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消费来自马来西亚西半岛的甲壳类、头足类动物和鱼类的汞和风险评估

摘要 汞 (Hg) 是一种有毒元素，对人类没有已知的生物学功能。这项研究测量了通常食用的鱼类和海产品中的总汞和甲基汞 (MeHg) 浓度，并评估了马来西亚人食用海产品导致汞污染的风险。报告了来自马来西亚西半岛的 8 种甲壳类动物 (n = 15)、5 种头足类动物 (n = 12) 和 29 种鱼类 (n = 78) 的总汞和甲基汞浓度。甲壳类、头足类和鱼类的总汞浓度分别为 0.033 ± 0.033 μg/g、0.040 ± 0.025 μg/g 和 0.106 ± 0.128 μg/g 湿重。鱼类中甲基汞的比例为 81-99%，平均值为 93±5%（n = 15）。在底层鱼中观察到显着更高的汞浓度，高营养级的鱼和体长>20厘米的鱼。所有鱼类和海鲜均低于马来西亚食品法规对鱼类和渔业产品的 0.5 微克/克湿重汞和 1.0 微克/克对掠食性鱼类的湿重汞的规定。但是，应考虑食用某些海产品种类的鱼，以确保甲基汞的临时可耐受每周摄入量 (PTWI) 不超过 1.6 微克/千克体重/周。