Effects of Age, Fulton’s Condition Index (K) and Muscle Fat on Total Mercury Content in Raw, Pre-Canning and Canned Samples of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
2023
Pierluigi Piras | Nicolò Pietro Paolo Macciotta | Domenico Meloni | Andrea Sanna | Maurizio Cossu | Severyn Salis | Giannina Chessa
A total of 30 samples of Atlantic bluefin tuna were analysed for total mercury concentration. Relationships between total mercury content and age, Fulton&rsquo:s condition index (K) and fat content were statistically evaluated. The effect of muscle status (raw, pre-canning, canned) on mercury content was also investigated. The average total mercury content was: 1.185 ±: 0.662 mg/kg in raw, 1.481 ±: 0.893 mg/kg in pre-canning and 1.393 ±: 0.882 mg/kg in canned samples, respectively. Canning promotes a statistically significant increase in the concentration of mercury. The weight of fish, K and fat content are useful tools to estimate the mercury accumulation in Atlantic bluefin tuna. The results of the present study represent a contribution to the assessment of the EU mercury levels in Atlantic bluefin tuna.
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