Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (한국수산과학회지)

The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science (한국수산과학회)
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Concentrations and Risk Assessment of Total Mercury and Methyl Mercury in Commercial Marine Fisheries from Korea

한국산 수산물의 총 수은 및 메틸수은 농도 및 위해도 평가

  • Choi, Minkyu (Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science) ;
  • Yun, Sera (Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science) ;
  • Park, Hye-Jung (Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science) ;
  • Lee, Ja-Yeon (Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science) ;
  • Lee, In-Seok (Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science) ;
  • Hwang, Dong-Woon (Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science) ;
  • Yoon, Min-Cheol (Food Safety and Processing Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science) ;
  • Choi, Woo Seok (Food Safety and Processing Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science)
  • 최민규 (국립수산과학원 기반연구부 어장환경과) ;
  • 윤세라 (국립수산과학원 기반연구부 어장환경과) ;
  • 박혜정 (국립수산과학원 기반연구부 어장환경과) ;
  • 이자연 (국립수산과학원 기반연구부 어장환경과) ;
  • 이인석 (국립수산과학원 기반연구부 어장환경과) ;
  • 황동운 (국립수산과학원 기반연구부 어장환경과) ;
  • 윤민철 (국립수산과학원 식품위생가공과) ;
  • 최우석 (국립수산과학원 식품위생가공과)
  • Received : 2017.08.17
  • Accepted : 2017.10.26
  • Published : 2017.12.31
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Abstract

Total mercury (T-Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) were determined in marine fisheries (41 species, n=87) commonly consumed in Korea, using a gold amalgamation method and gas chromatography-cold vapor atomic fluorescent spectroscopy, respectively. Concentrations of T-Hg and MeHg in all samples (31 fish, 4 crustaceans, 4 cephalopods, and 2 gastropod species) were in the range of 0.016-0.495 (mean, 0.093) mg/kg-wet and not detected-0.338 (mean, 0.067) mg/kg-wet, respectively. The concentrations of MeHg in marine fisheries were significantly correlated with T-Hg concentrations (P<0.001). The highest mean concentrations of T-Hg and MeHg were found in fish species, followed by crustaceans. The contribution of MeHg to T-Hg was in the range of 64-95% (mean, 83%) in cephalopods, 28-98% (mean, 69%) in fish, and 26-88% (mean, 57%) in crustaceans. The weekly intakes of T-Hg and MeHg by fisheries consumption for the Korean general population were estimated to be 0.463 and $0.338{\mu}g/kg$ body weight/week, respectively. The concentrations and intakes of T-Hg and MeHg were less than the allowable residue levels and in the range of 12 to 17% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) applied in Korea.

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References

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