Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (HPAH) concentrations in tissues from three tuna species Thunnus albacares (yellowfin tuna), Katsuwonus pelamis (skipjack tuna), and Auxis thazard (frigate tuna) were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The tuna samples were collected from the Indian Ocean. The instrument conditions gave high mass accuracy at 0.9 m/z isolation width of the mass filter and a mass error of <±1.0 ppm for many HPAHs. A total of 29 of the 30 targets chlorinated PAHs (ClPAHs) and 20 of the 21 targets brominated PAHs (BrPAHs) were detected in the tuna muscle samples. The mean total ClPAH, BrPAH and PAH concentrations for tuna were 127.2, 156.6 and 682.8 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. The mean total ClPAH and BrPAH concentrations (ng/g lipid weight) in the tuna were considerably lower than that of PAH concentrations. The mean total ClPAH, BrPAH and PAH concentrations in T. albacares respectively were 185.8, 249.2 and 784.1 ng/g lipid weight, irrespective of the body sizes. The mean total ClPAH, BrPAH and PAH concentrations in K. pelamis respectively were 45.1, 24.8 and 555.6 ng/g lipid weight. The mean total ClPAH, BrPAH and PAH concentrations in A. thazard respectively were 34.09, 4.73 and 433.24 ng/g lipid weight. The total ClPAH concentrations and body weights significantly positively correlated for T. albacares. The mean total ClPAH concentration in white muscles was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for large than for small T. albacares. This suggests ClPAHs could bioaccumulate in T. albacares, possibly because they are poorly metabolized. The chlorinated phenanthrene and pyrene concentrations indicated tuna accumulate these compounds increasingly effectively as the tuna grow. This was the first time large numbers of HPAHs were found in biological samples. HPAHs may adversely affect the health of humans consuming tuna.

Millimetre-sized fragments have been documented in many fish species, but their transfer through food webs is still poorly understood. Here we quantified and described plastic fragments in the digestive tracts of 43 Easter Island flying fish (Cheilopogon rapanouiensis) and 50 yellowfin tunas (Thunnus albacares) from coastal waters around Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the South Pacific subtropical gyre, and of fish preyed upon by T. albacares. Overall, seven C. rapanouiensis (16%) individuals had ingested microplastics, most of which resembled the common planktonic prey of the fish. One microplastic was found in the gut of a fish ingested by a tuna, which indicates that trophic transfer may occur between tuna and prey. A single T. albacares (2%) had ingested five mesoplastics (15.2–26.3 mm) that were probably not mistaken for prey items, but rather accidentally ingested during foraging on fish prey. The absence of microplastics in T. albacares suggests that such small particles, if transferred from the prey, do not accumulate in the relatively large digestive tract of large predators. On the other hand, larger plastic items may accumulate in the gut of tunas, to which they may induce deleterious effects that still need to be examined. However, only a small portion of the fish had ingested mesoplastics. The results of this study suggest that microplastic contamination is not an immediate threat to large predatory fish, such as T. albacares, along the coast of Easter Island within the South Pacific subtropical gyre.

Mercury is a toxic compound to which humans are exposed by consumption of fish. Current fish consumption advisories focus on minimizing the risk posed by the species that are most likely to have high levels of mercury. Less accounted for is the variation within species, and the potential role of the geographic origin of a fish in determining its mercury level. Here we surveyed the mercury levels in 117 yellowfin tuna caught from 12 different locations worldwide. Our results indicated significant variation in yellowfin tuna methylmercury load, with levels that ranged from 0.03 to 0.82 μg/g wet weight across individual fish. Mean mercury levels were only weakly associated with fish size (R2 < 0.1461) or lipid content (R2 < 0.00007) but varied significantly, by a factor of 8, between sites. The results indicate that the geographic origin of fish can govern mercury load, and argue for better traceability of fish to improve the accuracy of exposure risk predictions.

We measured Cd and Pb in the muscle and stomach contents of Thunnus albacares and Katsuwonus pelamis to define the distribution of the elements in the tissues and their degrees of biomagnification. 210Po was measured in the livers of both species and compared to the results of similar studies. The trophic position of the tuna species was determined by N isotope measurements. The average activity of 210Po in the liver ranged from 119 to 157 (Bqkg−1 wet weight) in K. pelamis and T. albacares. The trophic position of T. albacares (4.60) was higher than that of K. pelamis (3.94). The Cd content of the muscle increased significantly with the trophic position of the tuna. δ13C in T. albacares and K. pelamis varied, with values of 3.13 and 1.88‰, respectively. The δ15N values in yellowfin tuna were higher than in skipjack tuna. The trophic position of T. albacares (4.60±0.67) was therefore more elevated than that of K. pelamis (3.94±1.06). Pb was biomagnified in T. albacares (transfer factor=1.46).

DDTs were detected in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares, 92.1–221.8 ng‧g⁻¹ lipid weight) and their prey (54.9–93.5 ng‧g⁻¹ lipid weight) from the South China Sea (SCS). DDT levels reported in this study were lower than those of the previous studies indicated the recent mitigation of DDT contamination in the SCS. Higher DDT levels were observed in fat abdominal muscle than lean dorsal muscle in adult yellowfin tuna. Meanwhile, DDT levels in adult yellowfin tuna were higher than the young ones. The composition profiles of DDT and its metabolites suggested DDTs in fish in the SCS were mainly derived from the historical use of technical DDTs. DDTs were biomagnified through food chains with the trophic magnification factor of 2.5. Risk assessment results indicated that dietary exposure to DDTs through lifetime fish consumption from the SCS would pose little cancer and noncarcinogenic risk to coastal residents.

This study was performed to determine the concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in the gill, liver, muscle, and tail fin tissues of Euthynnus affinis, Katsuwonus pelamis, and Thunnus albacares from Oman Sea. All samples were analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer and the results were expressed as μg g⁻¹ dry weight. Metal concentrations were significantly higher in the liver than other tissues in three species (with some exceptions) (p < 0.05). The concentrations of metal accumulation in tissues of tuna species followed the Zn > Cu > Pb. Correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that Zn and Pb have anthropogenic sources. Estimated daily intake (EDI) in three tuna species for heavy metals were below the tolerable daily intake (TDI). Also, the mean target hazard quotient (THQ) based on studied metals in three tuna species was below 1, which suggests that consumption of these fish can be safe for human health in the Oman Sea. Graphical Abstract .

With the aim of knowing the distribution of As, Hg, and Se in skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis, Linnaeus, 1758) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares, Bonnaterre, 1788) from the Eastern Pacific, elemental concentrations were determined in the muscle and liver; As species were also analyzed in the stomach content. Additionally, health risk for consumers was assessed. For both tunas, levels of As and Se were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the liver than in the muscle. In K. pelamis, Hg concentrations in the muscle were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the liver. In T. albacares, As, Hg, and Se showed a trend to increase with fish dimensions. Arsenic extractability was better in the muscle than in the liver of both species; in K. pelamis, As species were better extracted than in T. albacares. In both tuna species, the most extractable arsenic was arsenobetaine (AsB) and a minor part was dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). The liver contained mainly AsB with some DMA and arsenocholine (AsC). Hazard indexes (HI) indicated no risk from Hg and Se intake through these tuna species. Considering the individual contribution to the HI, Hg contributed more (80 to 86%) than Se. In the context of health risk, none of the As and Hg values were above the permissible limits; however, two samples of T. albacares (9%) and three samples of K. pelamis (12%) had Se concentrations over the limits. If Hg and Se in the edible portion of tuna are considered under the approach of the HBVSₑ, tuna consumption is beneficial.

Mercury is a toxic trace metal, which can accumulate to levels threatening human and environmental health. In this study, contents of total mercury have been determined by ICP-MS spectrometry in fresh and processed tuna (110 samples) purchased from supermarkets in NW Spain. Mercury was present in all samples analyzed; however, only one sample of fresh tuna (1.070 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight (w.w.)) slightly exceeded the limit of the EU (1.0 mg kg⁻¹ w.w.). The average mercury concentration in processed tuna was lower than fresh, 0.306 mg kg⁻¹ w.w., and ranged from 0.080 to 0.715 mg kg⁻¹ w.w. Results were compared with literature data. In regard to the three types of preparation-packaging media for canned tuna, total Hg content was found in the following order: olive oil > natural > pickled sauce; the last showed significant statistical differences (p < 0.01) with the other two preparations. Between the two evaluated canned tuna species, significant statistical differences (p = 0.008) were observed and Thunnus alalunga presented a greater mean content (0.332 ± 0.114 mg kg⁻¹ w.w.) compared to Thunnus albacares (0.266 ± 0.171 mg kg⁻¹ w.w.).Taking into account the AESAN recommendation for adults and children, as well as the EU regulations and the tuna consumption by the Spanish population, the Hg levels obtained in this study pose no risk to consumer health. However, additional studies, a monitoring process, and efforts to reduce Hg concentration in tuna would be necessary, as well as considering other sources of exposure to Hg.