Fish consumption is considered the main route of exposure to mercury for the human population. In this sense, this study analysed the total and organic mercury content present in the muscle tissue of 38 fish species caught in different geographical areas of the North Atlantic Ocean (included in FAO fishing areas 27 and 31). The potential risk to human health through fish consumption was assessed using the maximum limit for mercury intake of 1.3 μg methylmercury Kg body weight⁻¹ week⁻¹. The results show that carnivorous species presented higher mercury content (range 0.03–0.88 μg g⁻¹) when compared to omnivorous (range 0.003–0.19 μg g⁻¹) in all sampling sites. Furthermore, demersal fish exhibited higher mercury levels (range 0.01–0.88 μg g⁻¹) than the pelagic species (range 0.003–0.38 μg g⁻¹) did. From the 38 species analysed only Zeus faber presented mercury levels (0.68 ± 0.07 μg g⁻¹) above the maximum limit (0.5 μg g⁻¹) established for human consumption. On the other hand, mercury intake can be higher than the recommended due to the consumption of 13 species from fishing area 27 (Azores archipelago and Northwest Portuguese coast) and one species (Cynoscion nebulosus) from fishing area 31 (Southeast Mexican coast). However, only the consumption of Zeus faber and Aphanopus carbo from the fishing area 27 is discouraged. Thus, the fish consumption per capita in a specific area can exceed the limits of mercury ingestion, even when the mercury content in the fish is below the recommended for consumption.

鱼类消费被认为是人类接触汞的主要途径。从这个意义上讲，这项研究分析了北大西洋不同地理区域（包括在粮农组织捕捞区域27和31中）捕获的38种鱼类的肌肉组织中总汞和有机汞含量。通过使用最大摄入量为1.3μg甲基汞Kg体重^-1 周^-1的汞摄入量，评估了通过食用鱼类对人类健康的潜在风险。结果表明，食肉物种呈现更高的汞含量（范围0.03-0.88微克克^-1）相比杂食性（范围时0.003-0.19微克克^-1）在所有采样点。此外，深海鱼类比中上层鱼类（0.003-0.38μgg ^-1）具有更高的汞含量（0.01-0.88μgg ^-1）。在所分析的38个物种中，只有宙斯辉柏的汞含量（0.68±0.07μgg ^-1）超过了人类食用的最大限量（0.5μgg ^-1）。另一方面，汞的摄入量可能高于建议的摄入量，因为消耗了27个捕捞区（亚速尔群岛和葡萄牙西北海岸）的13个物种和一个31个捕捞区（墨西哥东南部的海岸）的Cynoscion nebulosus种。但是，只有Zeus faber和不鼓励从捕鱼区27捕捞Aphanopus carbo。因此，即使鱼中的汞含量低于建议的食用量，特定区域的人均鱼品消费量也可能超过汞摄入量的限制。