Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Toxic Metals and Omega-3 Fatty Acids of Bluefin Tuna from Aquaculture: Health Risk and Benefits

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Exposure and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 01 June 2018

This article has been updated

Abstract

The share of Bluefin Tuna (BFT) has gained in importance in world fishing and trade for the last 50 years. Particularly in the Mediterranean region, this capture-based aquaculture (farming and fattening) activity has reached an important potential. This study examined the effects of toxic metals and omega-3 fatty acids from BFT fish captured in the Mediterranean Sea and cultured in the Aegean Sea on human health. The results of the current research revealed that the different groups of BFT (medium and large) fishes in general were rich in omega-3 fatty acids (especially from EPA and DHA) and hypocholesterolemic/Hypercholesterolemic potential (h/H) is higher than 3. The consumption of BFT products will reduce the cardiovascular risks. However, due to THQ (≥ 1), it has been found that mercury may cause serious health problems to the community in the long term.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

  • 01 June 2018

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistakes. Under section, ‘Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI),’ the value 150 g should be corrected as 100 g in the sentences ‘The weekly consumption value for fish…’ and ‘where WFC is the weekly fish consumption …’. Likewise under section, ‘Target Hazard Quotient (THQ),’ the data (21.43 g/person/day) should be (14.26 g/person/day).

References

  • Ababneh FA, Al-Momani IF (2013) Levels of mercury, cadmium, lead and other selected elements in canned tuna fish commercialised in Jordan. Int J Environ Anal Chem 93(7):755–766

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Afonso C, Costa S, Cardoso C, Bandarra NM, Batista I, Coelho I, Castanheira I, Nunes ML (2015) Evaluation of the risk/benefit associated to the consumption of raw and cooked farmed meagre based on the bioaccessibility of selenium, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, total mercury, and methylmercury determined by an in vitro digestion model. Food Chem 170:249–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonijevic B, Jankovic S, Curcic M, Durgo K, Stokic E, Srdic B, Tomic-Naglic D (2011) Risk characterization for mercury, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and polychlorinated biphenyls associated with fish consumption in Serbia. Food Chem Toxicol 49:2586–2593

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AOAC (1998) Official Method 991.36, Fat (crude) in seafood acid hydrolysis method: fish and other marine products. In: Cunniff P (ed) Official methods of analysis of AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD

  • Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 1.4.1 (2015) Contaminants and natural toxicants. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2015C00052/Download. Accessed 15 Sept 2017

  • Bora Başara B, Güler C, Yentür GK, Birge B, Pulgat E, Mamak Ekinci B (2013) T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Sağlık İstatistikleri Yıllığı 2012. Sağlık Bakanlığı Yayın No: 917, Sağlık Araştırmaları Genel Müdürlüğü Yayın No: SB-SAG-2013/01, pp 17, 43. Ankara. http://www.saglik.gov.tr/TR/dosya/1-87578/h/istaturk2012.pdf. Accessed 21 Nov 2017

  • Bosch AC (2015) Status of mercury and other heavy metals in South African marine fish species. Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Food Science) in the Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University.http://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10019.1/97964/bosch_status_2015.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 04 Feb 2018

  • Bosch AC, Bernadette O’Neill B, Sigge GO, Kerwath SE, Louwrens C, Hoffman LC (2016) Heavy metals in marine fish meat and consumer health: a review. J Sci Food Agric 96(1):32–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colussi GL, Catena C, Novello M, Sechi LA (2016) Omega-3 polyunsaturrated fatty acids in blood pressure control and essential hypertension, Chapter 4. In: Salazar-Sanchez L (ed) Update on essential hypertension. ISBN 978-953-51-2615-7, 978-953-51-2614-0. https://doi.org/10.5772/63501

    Google Scholar 

  • Duruibe JO, Ogwuegbu MOC, Egwurugwu JN (2007) Heavy metal pollution and human biotoxic effects. Int J Phys Sci 2(5):112–118

    Google Scholar 

  • EC No 1881/2006 (2006) Setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02006R1881-20140401&rid=10. Accessed 21 Aug 2017

  • EC No 629/2008 (2008) Amending regulation (EC) no. 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:173:0006:0009:EN:PDF. Accessed 21 Aug 2017

  • EFSA (2005) Opinion of the scientific panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies on a request from the commission related to the tolerable upper intake level of tin (Request no. EFSA-Q-2003-018) (adopted on 6 July 2005). EFSA J 254:1–25

    Google Scholar 

  • EFSA (2009a) Cadmium in food. Scientific opinion of the panel on contaminants in the food chain (Question no. EFSA-Q-2007-138). EFSA J 980:1–139

    Google Scholar 

  • EFSA (2009b) Scientific opinion on arsenic in food. EFSA panel on contaminants in the food chain (CONTAM). EFSA J 7(10):1351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EFSA (2010) Scientific opinion on lead in food. EFSA panel on contaminants in the food chain (CONTAM). EFSA J 8(4):1570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EFSA (2012a) Scientific opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methymercury in food. EFSA panel on contaminants in the food chain (CONTAM). EFSA J 10(12):2985

    Google Scholar 

  • EFSA (2012b) EFSA panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies (NDA); scientific opinion related to the tolerable upper intake level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). EFSA J 10(7):2815

    Google Scholar 

  • Erkan N, Özden Ö, Selçuk A (2010) Amino acid and vitamin composition of raw and cooked horse mackerel. Food Anal Methods 3(3):269–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2005) Third meeting of the ad hoc GFCM/ICCAT working group on sustainable bluefin tuna farming/fattening practices in the Mediterranean, Rome, 16–18 March 2005, FAO Fisheries Report No. 779. https://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y8870e/y8870e00.htm. Accessed 21 Aug 2017

  • Garaffo MA, Vassallo-Agius R, Nengas Y, Lembo E, Rando R, Maisano R, Dugo G, Giuffrida D (2011) Fatty acids profile, atherogenic (IA) and thrombogenic (IT) health lipid indices, of raw roe of blue fin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.) and their salted product “Bottarga”. Nutr Food Sci 2:736–743

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • GB 2762-2012 (2014) China released the National Food Safety Standard of Maximum Levels of Contaminants in foods, https://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Maximum%20Levels%20of%20Contaminants%20in%20Foods%20_Beijing_China%20-%20Peoples%20Republic%20of_12-11-2014.pdf. Accessed 21 Aug 2017

  • Giménez-Casalduero F, Sánchez-Jerez P (2006) Fattening rate of bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus in two mediterranean fish farms. Cybium 30(1):51–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenfield H, Southgate DAT (2003) Food composition data: production, management, and use. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, p 170

    Google Scholar 

  • ICCAT (2015) Recommendation by ICCAT amending the recommendation 13-07 to establish a multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and mediterranean (Rec [14-04]) (Entered into force 2 August 2015). https://www.iccat.int/Documents/Recs/compendiopdf-e/2014-04-e.pdf October 2015

  • Ichihara K, Waku K, Yamaguchi C, Saito K, Shibahara A, Miyatani S, Yamamoto K (2002) A convenient method for determination of the C20-22 PUFA composition of glycerolipids in blood and breast milk. Lipids 37:523–526

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Mathew BB, Beeregowda KN (2014) Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol 7(2):60–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jinadasa BKKK, Mahaliyana AS, Liyanage NPP, Jayasinghe GDTM (2015) Trace metals in the muscle tissues of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in Sri Lanka. Cogent Food Agric. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2015.1038975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kris-Etherton P, Harris W, Appel L (2002) American Heart Association Nutrition Commitee. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 106:2747–2757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H, Lyu X, Liu H (2014) Origin and assessment of groundwater pollution and associated health risk: a case study in an industrial park, northwest China. Environ Geochem Health 36(4):693–712. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-013-9590-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J (2015) Heavy metal contamination of yellow river alluvial sediments, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 73(7):3403–3415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3628-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H, Zhou W (2016) Distribution, enrichment and sources of trace metals in the topsoil in the vicinity of a steel wire plant along the Silk Road economic belt, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 75(10):909. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5719-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Licata P, Trombetta D, Cristani M, Naccari C, Martino D, Calò M, Naccari F (2005) Heavy metals in liver and muscle of Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in the Straits of Messina (Sicily, Italy). Environ Monit Assess 107:239–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miyake MP, Guillotreau, P, Sun C-H, Ishimura G (2010) Recent developments in the tuna industry. FAO fisheries and aquaculture technical paper 543, ISBN 978-92-5-106620-1

  • Mol S, Karakulak FS, Ulusoy Ş (2017) Potential health risks due to heavy metal uptake via consumption of Thunnus thynnus from the northern Levantine Sea. Toxin Rev 37(1):56–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moussa E-RWH, Shereen AN, Manal A, Mehanni A-HE, Rasha AE (2014) Nutritional value and fatty acid composition of household cooking on fish fatty acids profile using atherogenicity and thrombogenicity ındices. J Food Chem Nutr 02(01):27–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylonas CC, De La Gándara F, Corriero A, Ríos AB (2010) Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) farming and fattening in the Mediterranean sea. Rev Fish Sci 18(3):266–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ottolenghi F (2008) Capture-based aquaculture of bluefin tuna. In: Lovatelli A, Holthus PF (eds) Capture-based aquaculture. Global overview. FAO fisheries technical paper no. 508. Rome, FAO, pp 169–182. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i0254e/i0254e08.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2016

  • Peng S, Chao Chen C, Shi Z, Wang L (2013) Amino acid and fatty acid composition of the muscle tissue of Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). J Food Nutr Res 1(4):42–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Popovic NT, Kozacinski L, Strunjak-Perovic I, Coz-Rakovac R, Jadan M, Cvrtila-Fleck Z, Barisic J (2012) Fatty acid and proximate composition of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) muscle with regard to plasma lipids. Aquac Res 43:722–729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin D, Jiang H, Bai S, Tang S, Mou Z (2015) Determination of 28 trace elements in three farmed cyprinid fish species from Northeast China. Food Cont 50:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy BS (2004) Omega-3 fatty acids in colorectal cancer prevention. Int J Cancer 112:1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues BL, Canto ACVdCS, Costa MPd, Silva FAd, Mársico ET, Conte-Junior CA (2017) Fatty acid profiles of five farmed Brazilian freshwater fish species from different families. PLoS ONE 12(6):e0178898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos-Silva J, Bessa RJB, Santos-Silva F (2002) Effect of genotype, feeding system and slaughter weight on the quality of light lambs: II. Fatty acid composition of meat. Livest Prod Sci 77:187–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senso L, Suárez MD, Ruiz-Cara T, García-Gallego M (2007) On the possible effects of harvesting season and chilled storage on the fatty acid profile of the fillet of farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Food Chem 101:298–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sprague M, Dick JR, Medina A, Tocher DR, Bell JG, Mourente G (2012) Lipid and fatty acid composition, and persistent organic pollutant levels in tissues of migrating Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.) broodstock. Environ Pollut 171:61–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srebocan E, Pompe-Gotal J, Prevendar-Crnic A, Ofner E (2007) Mercury concentrations in captive Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) farmed in the Adriatic Sea. Vet Med 52(4):175–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Storelli MM, Barone G, Cuttone G, Giungato D, Garofalo R (2010) Occurrence of toxic metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) in fresh and canned tuna: public health implications. Food Chem Toxicol 48:3167–3170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (2007) Microwave assisted acid digestion of sediments, sludges, soils, and oils. Method 3051A (Revision 1 February 2007). https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-12/documents/3051a.pdf. Accessed 05 Nov 2016

  • US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (2015) Regional Screening level (RSL) summary table (TR=1E-6, HQ=1) June 2015 (revised). http://semspub.epa.gov/work/03/2218422.pdf. Accessed 12 Aug 2015

  • Wang C, Harris WS, Chung M, Lichtenstein AH, Balk EM, Kupelnick B, Jordan HS, Lau J (2006) n-3 Fatty acids from fish or fish-oil supplements, but not a-linolenic acid, benefit cardiovascular disease outcomes in primary- and secondary prevention studies: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr 84:5–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita Y, Omura Y, Okazaki E (2005) Total mercury and methylmercury levels in commercially important fishes in Japan. Fish Sci 71:1029–1035

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yerlikaya P, Gökoğlu N, Topuz OK, Gökoğlu M (2009) Changes in the proximate composition of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) reared in the cages located on the Gulf of Antalya (Turkey’s Western Mediterranean coast) during the fattening period. Aquac Res 40:1731–1734

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Research Fund of the Istanbul University, under Project Number: BYP-2016-22253.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Seafood Processing Technologies, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Ordu Caddesi No: 8 Laleli, Fatih, Istanbul, 34134, Turkey

    Özkan Özden, Nuray Erkan & F. Saadet Karakulak

  2. Food Institute, TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, Barış Mah. Dr. Zeki Acar Cad. No: 1 P.K. 21, Gebze, Kocaeli, 41470, Turkey

    Muammer Kaplan

Authors
  1. Özkan Özden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nuray Erkan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Muammer Kaplan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. Saadet Karakulak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Özkan Özden.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that for this article they have no actual, potential or perceived conflict of interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Özden, Ö., Erkan, N., Kaplan, M. et al. Toxic Metals and Omega-3 Fatty Acids of Bluefin Tuna from Aquaculture: Health Risk and Benefits. Expo Health 12, 9–18 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-018-0279-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-018-0279-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation