Heavy metal contamination in seafood and consumer exposure in the Gulf Cooperation Council

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Tecnologia e Segurança AlimentarThe population from countries surrounded by the Gulf and Arabian Sea depend on fisheries. Industry is growing and discharges by desalination plants and refineries lead to the presence of heavy metals which accumulate in the environment and seafood. The aim is to review seafood contamination with cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar and estimate the consumer exposure to these metals. All samples of molluscs and crustaceans tested for arsenic (As) showed concentrations above maximum permitted levels, Qatar and UAE being the most contaminated. All samples from Kuwait contained lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg). Bahrain samples contained Pb above permitted levels. On the coast of Oman and Qatar shellfish showed concentrations of Cd above permitted levels. The EWI for As from shellfish is above the PTWI for all samples. For Cd, all except shellfish from Oman, Bahrain and KSA entail a EWI above the PTWI. None of the samples, except from Kuwait, provide Pb above the PTWI and for Hg, only the clam, mussel and crab contain higher amounts. Four locations in the UAE contained fish with Cd above permitted levels. Tuna fish from KSA had higher levels of Cd and Pb. Highest levels of Hg could be found in fish from Kuwait. Bahrain and Qatar showed the highest levels of As. Hg EWI exceeded for the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. Estimated weekly intakes of As and Cd from shellfish are extremely high and above the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake. Fish from these countries does not contain high levels that pose a threat to public health, except for As. The risk is probably in chronic low exposure. Risk groups should be properly advised