Elemental Analysis of Crustaceans by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Direct Mercury Analysis

This study determined the concentrations of toxic metals including As, Cd, Hg and Pb in commonly consumed crustaceans collected from South Korea. The samples were prepared by wet digestion using HNO3 and H2O2 by microwave assisted combustion. For As, Cd, and Pb, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used. Hg content was determined using gold amalgation direct mercury analysis (DMA). The analytical techniques were validated by determining the correlation coefficients, limits of detection and quantification, coefficients of variance, spiking, and accuracy by analysis of an oyster tissue certified reference material (NIST CRM-1566b). The distribution of toxic metals was determined in whole, muscles, and digestive tracts of crustaceans. Furthermore, to provide information on consumer safety, risk assessment in terms of estimated dietary daily/weekly intake, target hazard quotient, and hazard index values was performed. The concentration (mg/kg) was in decreasing order of As (2.17-6.05) > Cd (0.154-4.57) > Pb (0.033-0.128) > Hg (0.011-0.086). The estimated dietary daily/weekly intake, target hazard quotient, and hazard indices were compared with the standards established by United States Environmental Protection Agency, and Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives and were below the threshold values. The analyzed crustaceans are not expected cause threats to consumers upon normal consumption.

Automated summary

This study examined the concentrations of toxic metals in commonly consumed crustaceans from South Korea and found that the levels were within safe limits for consumers.