Dewailly, E., and Knap, A.h. (2006) Food from the Ocean and Human Health: Balancing Risks and Benefits. Oceanography 19 (2):84-87 (original) (raw)
Related papers
Letters to the editor: Risks and Benefits of Seafood Consumption
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2006
We reported recently that several organic contaminants occurred at elevated concentrations in farmed Atlantic salmon compared with concentrations of the same contaminants in wild Pacific salmon [Hites et al. Science 303:226-229 (2004)]. We also found that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxaphene, dieldrin, dioxins, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers occurred at higher concentrations in European farm-raised salmon than in farmed salmon from North and South America. Health risks (based on a quantitative cancer risk assessment) associated with consumption of farmed salmon contaminated with PCBs, toxaphene, and dieldrin were higher than risks associated with exposure to the same contaminants in wild salmon. Here we present information on cancer and noncancer health risks of exposure to dioxins in farmed and wild salmon. The analysis is based on a tolerable intake level for dioxin-like compounds established by the World Health Organization and on risk estimates for human exposure to dioxins developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consumption of farmed salmon at relatively low frequencies results in elevated exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds with commensurate elevation in estimates of health risk. Key words: dioxins, risk-based consumption advice, salmon. Environ Health Perspect 113:552-556 (2005). doi:10.1289/ehp.7626 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 9 February 2005]
International Science Community Association 48 consumption of edible marine species
International Science Community Association Calibration standards: Three point calibration standards of appropriate concentration were prepared for each element from trace elements in fishes of Japanese foods marketed in Sao Paulo (Brazil). Food Control, 22(5), 778-785. 20. Marti-Cid R., Llobet J.M., Castell V. and Domingo J.L. (2008). Dietary intake of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead by the population of Catalonia, Spain. Biol. Trace Elem. Res, 125(2), 120-132.
Food Control, 2013
For hake, ray, and silver scabbard fish, the intake of methylmercury (methyl-Hg), selenium (Se), and eicosapentaenoic þ docosahexaenoic fatty acids (EPA þ DHA) through their consumption in Portugal and the associated probability of exceeding the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), the recommended daily allowance (RDA), and the recommended daily intake (RDI), respectively, were estimated. For this, the methyl-Hg, Se, and EPA þ DHA concentrations in the studied fish species were combined with constructed consumption scenarios for the elaboration of consumption recommendations or with a hypothesized Portuguese consumption distribution with the purpose of estimating the risk-benefit situation in Portugal.
Human Health Risks Due to Consumption of Chemically Contaminated Fishery Products
Environmental Health Perspectives, 1993
A small proportion of fishery products contaminated with appreciable amounts of potentially hazardous inorganic and organic contaminants from natural and environmental sources seem to pose the greatest potential for toxicity to consumers of fishery products in the United States. Health risks due to chemicals (e.g., modest changes in the overall risk of cancer, subtle deficits of neurological development in fetuses and children) are difficult to measure directly in people exposed to low levels. Immunocompetence may increase cancer risk. Inferences about the potential magnitude of these problems must be based on the levels of specific chemical present, observations of human populations and experimental animals exposed to relatively high doses, and theories about the likely mechanisms of action of specific intoxicants and the population distribution of sensitivity of human exposure. Lognormal distributions were found to provide good descriptions of the pattern ofvariation of contaminant concentrations among different species and geographic areas; this variability offers a solution for reduction of exposure through restricting harvest of aquatic animals from certain sites and by excluding certain species. Available information suggest that risks are not generally of high magnitude; nevertheless, their control will significantly improve public health. The following recommendations will help to reduce risk to humans: existing state and Federal regulations and environmental monitoring must be strengthened and enforced to improve the quality ofthe environment; a program of shared responsibility where Federal agencies develop a set of monitoring and inspection practices and state governments are responsible for site closures and issuing advisories should be established; research and public education by government agencies and health professionals should be expanded; mandatory labeling should be considered for specific contaminants; and a better system requiring international agreements should be developed to identify country of origin of imported fishery products and to harmonize product safety and quality.
Risk-Benefit Analysis of Seafood Consumption: A Review
Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 2012
Seafood, defined here as marine and freshwater fish and shellfish, is recognized as a healthy food choice because it is a low-fat protein source that provides long-chain omega-3 fatty acids important for early development along with eye and heart health. However, seafood is also known to contain certain contaminants, such as methylmercury and persistent organic pollutants, which can have harmful effects on human health and development. In order to limit exposure to contaminants while maximizing the benefits of seafood consumption, a number of quantitative and qualitative risk-benefit analyses have been conducted for seafood consumption. This review paper provides a brief background on risk-benefit analysis of foods, followed by a discussion of the risks and benefits associated with fish consumption. Next, risk-benefit analyses are reviewed in an historical context. While risk-benefit analysis consists of three main elements (that is, assessment, management, and communication), this review will primarily focus on risk-benefit assessments. Overall, most studies have found that the benefits far outweigh the risks among the general population, especially when a variety of fish is consumed at least twice per week. However, for certain populations (for example, pregnant women and young children) a more targeted approach is warranted in order to ensure that these groups consume fish that are low in contaminants but high in omega-3 fatty acids. The potentially harmful unintended consequences of risk-benefit communication on the general population and certain groups are also discussed.
Environmental Research, 2010
The use of community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to conduct environmental exposure assessments provides valuable insight about disparities in seafood consumption and contaminant exposure. Ninety-five community-specific seafood consumption surveys were administered to low-income African-American women (ages 16-49) residing in the Southeast community of Newport News, VA, USA, for the purpose of assessing potential dietary mercury exposure. Only the results of the seafood consumption surveys are presented in this manuscript. Approximately 65% of the women surveyed do not fish; however, 83% had consumed seafood within the last 7 days. Whiting, shrimp, and canned tuna were the three items most frequently consumed. Ninety-three percent of the women surveyed stated that grocery/seafood markets were the main sources of the seafood items generally consumed. The mean seafood consumption rate for the women surveyed was 147.8 g/day (95% CI: 117.6-185.8), a rate substantially higher than the mean seafood consumption rate reported for US women (1.8 g/day 95% CI: 1.51-2.04). Shrimp, croaker, and blue crab were the top three seafood items with the highest summed amount (g/day) consumed. There was no significant association between demographic variables (age, income, education, and weight) and total number of seafood items listed, ingestion rate (g/meal), exposure frequency (meals/year), and seafood consumption rate (g/day). By using CBPR to assess seafood consumption in this community, we learned that even though women in Southeast Newport News, Virginia are not subsistence fishers, they consume seafood at a subsistence fisher rate. Of the three seafood items most frequently consumed, canned tuna potentially plays a significant role in dietary mercury exposure for women in this community. Future work includes determining mercury concentrations in seafood items consumed and generating community-specific statements of dietary mercury risks.
75-Canuel_MeHg-Fish-consumption-2006.pdf
Fish constitutes the main dietary protein source for many populations worldwide. However, the presence of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish flesh can affect the health of frequent fish consumers. Health risk assessment requires fitting the level of exposure of food-borne contaminants to a mathematical function relating exposure to effects on health . Most epidemiologic studies dealing with the MeHg issue use mercury (Hg) levels in hair as the only indicator of human exposure, without relating this signal to actual fish consumption patterns among populations. The expected constant and linear relation between MeHg oral dose and body burden is used by government officials to establish guidelines on safe levels of MeHg exposure. Our objective in the present study was to test the validity of this approach by relating measured exposure to MeHg through fish consumption and associated measured levels of Hg in human hair. Using information yielded by a) a complete data set that includes, for three distinct Canadian communities, fish consumption patterns, biomarkers of human exposure, and related levels of Hg in edible fish species; and b) reanalysis of other published research related to fish consumption and hair Hg concentrations, allowed us to demonstrate that Hg levels in hair do not always reflect the reported level of MeHg intake via fish consumption, and therefore, the expected constant and linear relation between MeHg oral dose and body burden seems to vary significantly among ethnic groups. This observation could lead to questioning of regulatory policies and advisory guidelines on fish consumption.