Cadmium in Brown Crab Cancer pagurus in Norwegian Waters

The Brown crab Cancer pagurus is appreciated as seafood and its fishery is of importance in several European countries. However, findings of high levels of cadmium have increased concern about food safety, and spatial patterns of cadmium levels have been found. Along the Norwegian coast, a sudden spatial increase in cadmium levels in brown crab from Salten region in Northern Norway (ca. 67°N) and northwards has been identified. An earlier study including sediment measurements investigated the reason for the high values in the North, and concluded that it is unlikely that an anthropogenic point source is responsible for the high cadmium levels. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate further factors that may explain the large variation of cadmium in brown crab, and whether these factors can explain the differences in cadmium levels in brown crab along the Norwegian coast, with focus on physiological factors. Conflicting values of reported cadmium levels in crab claw meat led us to evaluate the pretreatment of crabs before analyses. A strong effect of cooking and freezing was found, causing a leakage of cadmium from hepatopancreas to claw meat. The findings in crabs sampled in the North and the South of the Norwegian coast during one year, revealed that the influence of physiological factors on cadmium levels is not very pronounced in comparison to the large differences between crabs from the North and the South. However, there was a correlation between size and cadmium levels in crabs sampled in the North, indicating an accumulation of cadmium over time. As brown crabs are assumed to grow more slowly in the North, this indicates that some of the variation in cadmium between the North and the South can be explained by growth rate. Further evidence for a high potential of brown crab to accumulate cadmium has been found in a lab trial, where cadmium from food and water was traced in brown crab to compare the relative importance of the uptake routes. No depuration of cadmium was observed, indicating a high accumulation potential. Furthermore, the dietary uptake was predicted to contribute at least 98 % to the overall cadmium accumulation in brown crab in Northern Norway. This indicates that foraging and related behavior plays an important role in determining the cadmium levels in crab. As we found an indication for different foraging patterns in crabs from North and South, this might partly explain the north-south variation. The field study did not reveal a clear pattern in cadmium levels in brown crab when considering sex, moulting stage, gonad maturation stage, or season, making it difficult to develop mitigation strategies for the crab fishery in the North. Another aim of this thesis was to assess the risk of exceeding the limit of safe exposure to cadmium by the consumption of brown crab considering different consumption patterns in the Norwegian population. According to our measured cadmium level in cooked crabs from the field study, it is safe to consume crab claw meat regardless of the origin of the crab. The consumption of whole crabs including brown meat in the coastal population, however, was calculated to lead to an intake of cadmium above the tolerable weekly intake. In general, brown meat should be consumed parsimoniously and a legal maximum limit for cadmium in brown meat and mixtures of brown meat and white meat should be considered

Cadmium in the shore crab Carcinus maenas along the Norwegian coast: geographical and seasonal variation and correlation to physiological parameters

Previously, high concentrations of cadmium have been found in the hepatopancreas of the edible or brown crab (Cancer pagurus) sampled from positions north of about 67° N, compared to regions further south along the Norwegian coast, with no clear understanding why. In order to study a similar organism in the same ecosystem, the present study analyzed 210 shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) from four different locations along the Norwegian coast, two in the North and two in the South. The physiological variables size, sex, molting stage, hepatosomatic index, carapace color, and gonad maturation were registered, in attempt to explain the high inter-individual variation in cadmium levels in hepatopancreas. In contrast to the brown crabs, the shore crabs showed no clear geographical differences in cadmium concentrations. This indicates physiological differences between the two crab species. No clear and consistent correlations were found between cadmium levels and physiological parameters, except for sex, where cadmium concentration in hepatopancreas was twice as high in males compared to females. The cadmium levels also varied with season, with approximately 40 and 60% lower cadmium concentration in April than August for male and female shore crabs, respectively. None of the analyzed cadmium concentrations in muscle meat from claws exceeded EUs food safety limit, and low cadmium levels in soup prepared from shore crabs clearly indicated that this dish is not problematic regarding food safety.publishedVersio

Targeted risk assessment of mercury exposure of recreational fishers: Are nephrops fishers in Norway at risk?

Recreational fishers often consume their catch, which may expose them to environmental contaminants. However, targeted risk assessment for exceeding the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of a specific contaminant is often lacking, as specific data on the extent of fishing, consumption rates, and contamination of the caught seafood is needed. This study examined recreational fishing for nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) at several different locations in Western Norway to identify important risk factors. The combination of a field survey to examine actual catches, interviews of recreational fishers about their seafood eating habits, and the analysis of total mercury (Hg, as a proxy for methylmercury (MeHg)) in recreationally captured nephrops allowed to conduct a targeted risk assessment. Recreational fishers consumed on average seven nephrops per meal, and 73% of the fishers ate nephrops once a month or more. The average Hg concentrations in nephrops were below the legal maximum level (100 ± 50 μg/kg wet weight (mean ± SD)). Hg concentrations in female nephrops were significantly higher than in males at the same size, and differed significantly between locations. The recreational fishers in this study were not at risk of exceeding the TWI for MeHg from consuming nephrops only; however, there is a general risk of exceeding TWI for MeHg as 70% of the fishers reported a frequent consumption of fish for dinner. Targeted risk assessments on recreational fishers may reveal particularly vulnerable populations where national dietary surveys may miss the highest seafood consumers.publishedVersio

Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries - Results from 2022

This report summarises results from the ongoing monitoring programme for veterinary border control on seafood products imported to Norway from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area in 2022. Eight samples of products imported in 2021 but analysed in 2022 are also included. Samples were collected by personnel at the Norwegian Border Inspection Posts (BIP). The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out the analytical work on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA). We want to thank NFSA for good cooperation during the conduct of this monitoring programme. A risk assessment for different groups of imported products formed the basis for the selection of analytical activities, where current trend of hazards, as reported in The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification system and the compositional nature of the products and origin formed an up-to-date basis for the risk assessment.Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries - Results from 2022publishedVersio

Cadmium in brown crab Cancer pagurus. Effects of location, season, cooking and multiple physiological factors and consequences for food safety

Brown crab Cancer pagurus is appreciated as seafood in several European countries. However, cadmium levels in crabs can be elevated and their consumption may pose a hazard for human health. To assess if cadmium poses a threat to food safety in Norway, crabs were sampled at two different locations along the Norwegian coast: one in the South of Norway and one in the North of Norway. Cadmium levels were determined in different tissues (claw meat, hepatopancreas and inner meat). To highlight specific risk factors for cadmium, the concentration of cadmium was related to different exogenous (location, cooking and season) and physiological (size, sex, moulting stage, gonad maturation stage, condition) factors. The results confirmed previous findings of much higher cadmium levels in brown crab sampled in the North of Norway compared to the South. Cooking of crabs further led to higher concentrations in claw meat. The effect of season on cadmium levels was different in the North and South and no clear patterns could be identified, probably due to a high inter-individual variation in cadmium levels. Size showed a correlation with the total amount of cadmium for crabs in the North indicating an accumulation of cadmium over time; together with a slower growth, this may lead to the higher cadmium levels, observed in the crabs from Northern Norway. The risk connected to cadmium exposure when consuming brown crab mainly depends on the consumption pattern, the parts of the crab consumed and the origin of the crab. Regardless of origin, the consumption of claw meat does not display a consumer health risk. However, the consumption of meals consisting of inner meat only and inner meat of brown crab from Northern Norway may pose a health risk.publishedVersio

Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries – results from 2018

This report summarises results from the ongoing monitoring programme for veterinary border control on seafood products imported to Norway from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area from 2018. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out the analytical work on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), in cooperation with the personnel at the Norwegian Border Inspection Posts (BIP). We want to thank NFSA for very good cooperation during the conduct of this monitoring programme. An up to date risk assessment for different groups of imported products, made the basis for the sampling plans and the selection of analytical activities. The current trend of hazards, as reported in The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification system, the compositional nature of the products and the annual import quantity of relevant products, was evaluated in this risk assessment. A total of 122 samples from the NFSA, collected at the BIPs, were examined by a selection of analytical methods and assays for microorganisms, parasites and undesirable chemical substances. The analytical data are listed in Annex 1 and are summarised below. Microbiological analyses were performed on 104 samples. The results for microbiological indicator organisms for faecal contamination were mostly below detection limit or showed low bacterial counts. The microbiological quality parameters and indicator organisms for faecal contamination generally showed low numbers. However, higher counts were found in one sample of Yellowfin tuna imported from the Maldives and one sample of Pacific cod imported from Thailand. L. monocytogenes was detected in low quantity in one sample of Pacific cod from Thailand and in one sample of Norwegian herring re-imported to Norway from Egypt. No samples had pathogens in the genera Salmonella. Enterobacteriaceae was detected in one sample of feed imported from Chile.Yeast was found in two samples of feed from Chile, and in one sample of dried Yellow Stripe Trevally from Thailand and in Migas from China. Mould was detected in the same dried Yellow Stripe Trevally from Thailand and in Migas from China. Parasitological examination was carried out on 40 fish samples. Nematodes were found in nine of them (22.5%). Since fish were imported frozen, nematodes were dead and not infective. Thirteen seafood samples originating from aquaculture were analysed for residues of prohibited veterinary medicines, unauthorised dyes and antibacterial agents. None of these were detected. The chemical spoilage indicators histamine and total volatile basic nitrogen was examined in nineteen samples and all results were compliant with the maximum levels. Undesirable trace elements were measured in 89 samples. A sample of canned sardine in oil from the Philippines exceeded the maximum Cd level. A sample of small crabs from Thailand, assuming they were intended to be consumed whole, were slightly above the Pb maximum level. A frozen fillet sample of yellowfin tuna imported from Vietnam exceeded the Hg maximum level. Twenty-eight samples were analysed for the persistent organic pollutants dioxins/ furans and PCBs (DLPCBs and NDLPCBs), the PBDE class of compounds, the PAH class of compounds and organochlorine pesticides. One sample of fish oil from Turkey was found non-compliant with its maximum levels for dioxins and for the sum of dioxins and dioxin like PCBs. The levels of PBDEs in twenty-eight samples, and also the fifteen samples analysed for organochlorine pesticides, were within a range commonly observed in seafood. For the PAH class of compounds, one sample was analysed, and found compliant with its maximum levels.publishedVersio

Mesopelagic Species and Their Poential Contribution to Food and Feed Security - A Case Study from Norway

The projected increase in global population will demand a major increase in global food production. There is a need for more biomass from the ocean as future food and feed, preferentially from lower trophic levels. In this study, we estimated the mesopelagic biomass in three Norwegian fjords. We analyzed the nutrient composition in six of the most abundant mesopelagic species and evaluated their potential contribution to food and feed security. The six species make up a large part of the mesopelagic biomass in deep Norwegian fjords. Several of the analyzed mesopelagic species, especially the fish species Benthosema glaciale and Maurolicus muelleri, were nutrient dense, containing a high level of vitamin A1, calcium, selenium, iodine, eicopentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and cetoleic acid. We were able to show that mesopelagic species, whose genus or family are found to be widespread and numerous around the globe, are nutrient dense sources of micronutrients and marine-based ingredients and may contribute significantly to global food and feed security.publishedVersio

Kartlegging av fremmedstoffer i mesopelagiske arter fra norske farvann - Mesopelagisk fisk fra Norskehavet og Sognefjorden

publishedVersio

Sjømat fra havner og fjorder med kostadvarsel - En undersøkelse av fremmedstoff i torsk, brosme og krabbe fra områdene Bergen, Kragerø, Grenland og Ålesund fra 2019-2021

I dette prosjektet har vi undersøkt nivåene av arsen, bly, kadmium, kvikksølv, dioksiner, furaner, PCBer og bromerte flammehemmere i prøver av kysttorsk og taskekrabbe (rå) fra områder rundt Bergen, Grenland/Kragerø og Ålesund, og i brosme fra områdene rundt Bergen og Ålesund. I tillegg analyserte vi for HBCD og TBBP-A i taskekrabbeprøver fra Ålesund-regionen.Sjømat fra havner og fjorder med kostadvarsel - En undersøkelse av fremmedstoff i torsk, brosme og krabbe fra områdene Bergen, Kragerø, Grenland og Ålesund fra 2019-2021publishedVersio

MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR VETERINARY CONTROL ON SEAFOOD PRODUCTS IMPORTED TO NORWAY FROM THIRD COUNTRIES – RESULTS FROM 2017 – In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 136/2004, Annex II, Part 1.

This report summarises results from 2017 from the ongoing monitoring programme for veterinary border control for seafood products imported to Norway from countries outside the European Economic Area. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out the analytical work on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), in cooperation with the personnel at the Norwegian Border Inspection Posts (BIP). We want to thank NFSA for very good cooperation during the conduct of this monitoring programme. An up to date risk assessment for different groups of imported products, made basis for the sampling plans and the selection of analytical activities. The current trend of hazards, as reported in The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification system, the compositional nature of the products and the annual import quantity of relevant products, are evaluated in this risk assessment. A total of 116 samples from the NFSA at the Norwegian BIP, have been examined by a selection of methods for microorganisms, parasites and undesirable chemical compounds during 2017. The analytical results are listed in Annex 1 and are summarised below. Microbiological analyses were performed on 116 samples. The results for microbiological indicator organisms for faecal contamination were mostly below detection limit, or showed low bacterial counts, with some exceptions. One samples of cod imported from Thailand had coliform counts of 560 colony-forming units (cfu/g) and enterococci in a concentration of 1600 cfu/g. One sample of marinated eel imported from Thailand had 330 coliforms/g and a thermotolerant coliform count of 30 cfu/g. One sample of seasoned cuttlefish imported from Thailand had high counts of sulphite-reducing bacteria and enterococci with 5100 cfu/g and 400 cfu/g, respectively. Bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae, were detected in three samples of surimi, two samples imported from USA and one sample imported from Vietnam. Listeria monocytogenes (20 cfu/g) were detected in one sample of hoki imported from China. Pathogens in the genus Salmonella were not detected in any of the samples, neither was any disease-causing vibrios. Yeast and fungi were detected in two samples of seasoned cuttlefish imported from Thailand. Parasitological examinations were carried out on 53 fish samples, and nematodes were found in five samples (9 %). The nematodes were dead and thus not infective at the time of analysis. The highest numbers of nematodes were found in two samples of fillet of saithe imported from Russia, with 10 and 11 detected nematodes. Eleven samples originating from aquaculture were analysed for residues of prohibited veterinary medicines (unauthorised dyes and antibacterial agents) in 2017. The programme included the dye compounds crystal violet (CV), leuco crystal violet (LCV), malachite green (MG), leuco malachite green (LMG), brilliant green (BG), and the antibacterial agents chloramphenicol and nitrofuran metabolites. No unauthorised dyes nor prohibited antibacterial agents were detected. Heavy metals were measured in 89 samples. All samples were compliant with the maximum legal limits. The persistent organic pollutants (POPs) dioxins/ furans and PCBs (DLPCBs and NDLPCBs) and the PBDE class of compounds were measured in 29 samples. All samples were compliant with respect to their POPS maximum limits. The levels of PBDEs, which is not regulated with maximum limits, were within a range commonly observed in seafood. For the PAH class of compounds, 11 samples were analysed and found to have low levels, well within the compliant range of their regulatory maximum limits.MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR VETERINARY CONTROL ON SEAFOOD PRODUCTS IMPORTED TO NORWAY FROM THIRD COUNTRIES – RESULTS FROM 2017 – In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 136/2004, Annex II, Part 1.publishedVersio