Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) metal accumulation: A public health concern for Atlantic fish consumers?

Acknowledgements : This study had the support of Fundaçao ˜ para a Ciˆencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the Strategic Project UID/MAR/04292/2020 granted to MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, project BLUESHARKER (PTDC/CTA-AMB/29136/2017), co-financed by COMPETE2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029136), and grant awarded to Luís Alves (SFRH/BD/122082/2016). Sara Novais is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19. The project was also partially funded by the Integrated Programme of SR&TD “SmartBioR” (reference Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018), co-funded by Centro 2020 program, Portugal2020, European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund. Authors would also like to acknowledge the fishermen enabling access to the samples, and all the members of Lemos Lab research group that helped in the laboratory during the dissection and sampling.

One of the most landed sharks in Portuguese fisheries is the lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), which is ever-present in Portuguese fish markets and consumed as cheap fish protein source. The focus of this study was to evaluate element contamination in consumed tissues of Atlantic S. canicula, with the intent of safeguarding possible public health issues. A total of 74 specimens were analysed for metals and metalloids in the deeper white muscle and skin. Arsenic, zinc, iron and aluminium were the elements with higher mean values. There was a tendency for higher levels in the skin, with differences between life-stage and gender. Many individuals surpassed stipulated guideline limits for mercury and arsenic, posing a risk for human consumption (according to the health risk assessment performed for the average Portuguese fish consumption) or even for use in feed production. Besides the public health concern, this study also evidences troubling signs on marine contamination status.

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