Overview
Two demersal fish species bought in Apulian fish markets were pooled by length class and analyzed for mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic in muscle, with intake and risk estimates for average and high fish consumers. Average cadmium exceeded the EU limit of 0.05 µg/g in both species; mercury rose with fish length.
Key numbers
- Shi drum, all length classes: mercury 0.18 ± 0.04, cadmium 0.07 ± 0.02, lead 0.10 ± 0.02, arsenic 0.59 ± 0.06 µg/g wet weight (Table 1, p. 4).
- Brown meagre, all classes: mercury 0.19 ± 0.09, cadmium 0.10 ± 0.03, lead 0.12 ± 0.03, arsenic 0.69 ± 0.10 µg/g wet weight (Table 1).
- Largest brown meagre class (25.5-26.4 cm): mercury 0.33 ± 0.04 µg/g (Table 1).
Methods (brief)
Pooled edible muscle digested with HNO3-HClO4 (cadmium, lead) or H2SO4-HNO3 (mercury, arsenic); graphite furnace AAS for cadmium and lead, hydride generation AAS for mercury and arsenic. TORT-2 recoveries 92 to 104%, spike recoveries 96 to 99%. Inorganic arsenic and methylmercury were assumed fractions, not measured.
Evidence Fitness
Market fish with reasonable QA, but values are pool means. Table 1 prints the unit as “mg g−1” while the Methods state µg/g; the printed lead LOQ is below its LOD. This paper measures finfish only, not clams or any shellfish, so it gives no direct evidence for clam-chowder and does not link it.