Metal Contents in Fish from the Bay of Bengal and Potential Consumer Exposure—The EAF-Nansen Programme

Fish represent an important part of the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi diet. However, fish is also a source of contaminants that may constitute a health risk to consumers. The aim of this study was to analyse the contents of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in 24 commonly consumed marine fish species from the Bay of Bengal and to assess the potential health risk associated with their consumption. Mercury and lead contents did not exceed the maximum limits for any of the sampled species, and consumer exposure from estimated daily consumption was assessed to be minimal for adults and children. Numerous samples exceeded the maximum limit for cadmium (58%), particularly those of small size (≤25 cm). However, consumer exposure was insignificant, and health assessment showed no risk connected to consumption. These data represent an important contribution to future risk/benefit assessments related to the consumption of fish.publishedVersio

Bacterial diseases of tilapia, their zoonotic potential and risk of antimicrobial resistance

Tilapia culture is an important source of income and nutrition to many rural families. Since 2000, the production of tilapia increased and reached domestic and global markets. Major farmed species is Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), in earthen ponds and cage cultures. Intensification contributed to global tilapia disease outbreaks, with bacterial infections causing mortalities and morbidities, threatening sustainable production. At tilapia farms, high nutrient concentrations, water temperature and fish densities enhance bacterial growth including virulent bacterial clones and potential zoonotic bacteria. Global warming favours this. This review respectively provides a comprehensive overview of the most common and emerging bacterial pathogens, diseases, clinical presentations and diagnostics of tilapia, including bacteria and diseases with zoonotic potential. First, common bacterial disease outbreaks, including streptococcosis, motile Aeromonas septicaemia, francisellosis, columnaris disease and vibriosis are described. Then, information on emerging bacterial infections of concern for tilapia, like edwardsiellosis through Edwardsiella ictaluri and E. tarda, as well as Aeromonas schubertii is provided. Reports of infectious bacterial tilapia disease outbreaks from other bacteria, including Lactococcus garvieae, Aerococcus viridans, Pseudomonas spp., Mycobacterium marinum and Chlamydia spp., and others are reviewed. Furthermore, bacteria with zoonotic potential, like Streptococcus agalactiae ST283, S. iniae, Aeromonas sp., E. tarda, Vibrio vulnificus pathovar (pv) piscis and M. marinum are included in the review, to provide the most current overview of the disease risks affecting production and post-harvest stages. Additionally, the status and risks of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from tilapia and other cultured fish through imprudent use of antibiotics, and its future at a global level are provided

Microplastics in food commodities : A food safety review on human exposure through dietary sources

The contamination of the environment with whole plastics or pieces thereof (microand nanoplastics) is the subject of extensive discussion nowadays in academia and the media. In addition to environmental matrices, micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in fishery products and other important food commodities, with concerns over their impact on human health. Food consumption is considered one of most significant routes of human exposure to these small plastic particles. Such concerns may arise not only from the exposure to reactive monomers in the otherwise biologically inert polymer structure, but also from their associated contaminants. Many studies have reported neurotoxicity, oxidative stress and immunotoxicity among the main consequences of exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. This document outlines the existing literature on the occurrence of microplastics and their associated contaminants in foods. It estimates the dietary exposure of consumers to these materials, highlights some knowledge gaps with respect to their relevance to public health, and offers some recommendations for future work on microplastic particles to support food safety governance

Microplastics in fish and shellfish - A threat to seafood safety?

Plastic litter in the oceans is a major environmental problem, and small size plastics (microplastics) have been detected in many species of fish and shellfish consumed by humans. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the knowledge on microplastics in fish and shellfish in relation to a possible threat to seafood safety. In fish and crustacean species, the presence of microplastics has in most cases been investigated and detected only in the gastrointestinal tract, which is commonly not eaten, and when present, only a very small number is usually found. Bivalves are probably the main source of microplastics when consuming seafood. Preliminary assessments have suggested that the contribution of hazardous chemicals from microplastics for top consumers of bivalves is very small compared to other sources. From the current knowledge on microplastics in seafood, there is no evidence that the safety of such highly recommended food is compromised

Food Safety Risks Posed by Heavy Metals and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) related to Consumption of Sea Cucumbers

The global production of sea cucumbers was 245 thousand tons in 2020. Sea cucumbers are important food items in Asian and Pacific cuisines, the highest proportion being consumed in China as “bêche-de-mer” dried, gutted, boiled and salted body wall. However, consumption of sea cucumbers is expanding in China and globally, and the high demand has led to decline in populations of sea cucumbers, due to overexploitation. Aquaculture, together with novel fisheries on new species in new regions is easing the demand. Thus, an assessment of food safety is warranted. A literature search on food hazards was performed. A high proportion of the selected papers concerned heavy metals and metalloid hazards, such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As). No specific maximum limits (MLs) have been set for contents of these in sea cucumbers. Thus, the contents were compared with maximum limits set for aquatic animals in general or bivalve molluscs if available. With regard to Hg and Cd levels, none of the samples exceeded limits set by the European Commission or the National Standard of China, while for Pb, samples from highly industrialised areas exceeded the limits. Surprisingly, data on contaminants such as POPs, including dioxins and dl-PCB, PAH and PFAS as well as microbial hazards were scarce. The availability of fresh sea cucumber has increased due to aquaculture. To preserve the original flavour some consumers are reported to prefer to eat raw sea cucumber products, sashimi and sushi, which inevitably causes challenges from the microbial food safety perspective. Altogether, this paper highlights specific needs for knowledge, in particular when harvesting new species of sea cucumbers or in industrialized regions. Systematic monitoring activities, appropriate guidelines and regulations are highly warranted to guide the utilization of sea cucumbers

Case study of a harmful benthic event caused by Gambierdiscus

19th International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA 2021), 10-15 october 2021, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México.-- 6 pages, 1 figure, 1 tableThe increased numbers of adverse incidents associated with benthic harmful algae blooms (BHABs) has generated strong research interests in the last decade and calls for early warning system that provide warnings and reduce risk to human health. The complex habitats of BHABS make many detection methods difficult or unfeasible so case studies of bloom management, like the one we present here, are especially helpfulThe field study conducted in Nuku-Hiva Island was supported by funds from the countries of France (Arrêté No. HC/491/DIE/BPT of 30 March 2016) and French Polynesia (No. 7937/MSR/REC of 4 December 2015), in the frame of the CARISTO-Pf research programPeer reviewe

Risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked Sardinella sp. in Ghana : impact of an improved oven on public health protection

An improved fish smoking oven called FAO-Thiaroye Technique (FTT) has been introduced in Ghana and other countries in the Global South as a technical intervention for the high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in traditionally smoked fish produced in those regions. This study evaluated the extent to which the intervention reduces consumer exposure to PAHs (considering benzo(a)pyrene [BaP] as a marker) in smoked fish, using Ghana as a case. Smoked Sardinella sp. were sampled from two traditional ovens (Chorkor smoker and metal drum oven) and the FTT and their PAH levels were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Samples of the product were also purchased from informal markets in three selected regions of Ghana and analyzed for their PAH levels. Cross-sectional consumer surveys were conducted in the selected regions to determine intakes of the commodity. A probabilistic risk assessment of PAH was then done by the margin of exposure (MoE) approach. BaP MoE as low as 1,060 and 752 were obtained for products from the traditional ovens and the informal markets, respectively, whereas the lowest value for FTT products was approximately 161,000. MoE values less than 10,000 were considered to denote a serious public health concern requiring risk management action. Therefore, the findings suggest that there is a potential health concern of high consumer exposure to PAHs in traditionally smoked fish in Ghana, and that the FTT is a technically viable intervention for the problem

Early Warning Systems for Gambierdiscus, a Benthic HAB

19th International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA 2021), 10-15 october 2021, La Paz, Baja California Sur, MéxicoCiguatera poisoning (CP) is a long-neglected foodborne disease affecting tropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Caribbean Sea. It was raised at the 32nd Session of the Codex Committee on Fisheries and Fishery Products (FAO) in 2016. In 2017, CP was an agenda item at the 11th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food. The committee requested scientific advice, so late 2018 a group of experts met to advise FAO-WHO on the development of risk management options for CP. In parallel to this an interagency global ciguatera strategy was developed among FAO, IOC and IAEA. In this framework, an expert team is developing guidance for the implementation of CP Early Warning Systems (EWSs). The EWS approach includes monitoring Gambierdiscus species (benthic dinoflagellates) that produce the toxins responsible for CP. Advances in Gambierdiscus taxonomy, better understanding of their global distribution and toxicity and species-specific molecular identification and enumeration methods make this possible. Key to standardizing cell based EWS for Gambierdiscus are how, when and where to sample. Unlike planktonic species, no standardized sampling method for benthic species exists. Traditionally, macrophytes are collected and cells abundances normalized to grams wet weight of macrophyte. There are myriad arguments against this collection technique, including ignoring the use of more accurate, surface-area normalized cell densities. Artificial substrates, rather than macrophytes, are proposed so cell abundances can be normalized to surface areas. We hope to open a dialog among interested colleagues and invite them to develop proof of concept projects comparing traditional macrophyte sampling methods with artificial substrate

Metal Contents in Fish from the Bay of Bengal and Potential Consumer Exposure—The EAF-Nansen Programme

Fish represent an important part of the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi diet. However, fish is also a source of contaminants that may constitute a health risk to consumers. The aim of this study was to analyse the contents of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in 24 commonly consumed marine fish species from the Bay of Bengal and to assess the potential health risk associated with their consumption. Mercury and lead contents did not exceed the maximum limits for any of the sampled species, and consumer exposure from estimated daily consumption was assessed to be minimal for adults and children. Numerous samples exceeded the maximum limit for cadmium (58%), particularly those of small size (≤25 cm). However, consumer exposure was insignificant, and health assessment showed no risk connected to consumption. These data represent an important contribution to future risk/benefit assessments related to the consumption of fish

Derivation of toxicity equivalency factors for marine biotoxins associated with Bivalve Molluscs

Background Seafood toxins pose an important risk to human health, and maximum levels were imposed by regulatory authorities throughout the world. Several toxin groups are known, each one with many analogues of the major toxin. Regulatory limits are set to ensure that commercially available seafood is not contaminated with unsafe levels. Scope and approach The mouse bioassay was used to measure the toxicity in seafood extracts to determine if a sample exceeded regulatory limits. The advantage of this approach was to provide an estimation of the total toxicity in the sample. As instrumental methods of analysis advance and serve as replacements to the mouse bioassay, the challenge is translating individual toxin concentrations into toxicity to determine whether regulatory limits have been exceeded. Such analyses provide accurate quantitation of the toxin analogues, by they have widely dissimilar potencies. Thus, knowledge of the relative toxicities is required for risk assessment and determining overall toxicity. The ratios between the toxicity of the analogues and that of a reference compound within the same toxin group are termed ???Toxicity Equivalency Factors??? (TEFs). Key findings and conclusions In this document, the requirements for determining TEFs of toxin analogues are described, and recommendations for research to further refine TEFs are identified. The proposed TEFs herein, when applied to toxin analogue concentrations determined using analytical methods, will provide a base to determine overall toxicity, thereby protecting human health