<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The concentration of mercury, fatty acids and lipid quality indices were determined in three species of fish (European eel, <italic>Anguilla anguilla</italic> Linnaeus, 1758, Eurasian perch, <italic>Perca fluviatilis</italic> Linnaeus, 1758 and roach, <italic>Rutilus rutilus</italic> Linnaeus, 1758). The fish were caught from a reservoir in the Warmia and Mazury region located near Olsztyn (north-eastern Poland). Mercury content was determined by atomic absorption thermal decomposition using Milestone DMA-80 (Italy), whereas fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography using a 7890A Agilent Technologies chromatograph. The total mercury concentration had the following sequence: European perch (0.297 mg/kg) > European eel (0.160 mg/kg) ≈ roach (0.100 mg/kg) (P&lt;0.05). A positive correlation was found between the mercury content and size (the body weight and total length) of these fish (P&lt;0.0001). Based on the THQ, HI (&lt;1.0) and BRQ (1.063), it was concluded that the fish does not pose a health risk and is fit for human consumption. Similarly, low AI and TI values (&lt;1) are beneficial to human health related to reducing the risk of ischemic heart disease. A low OFA index of C12+C14+C18 and a high index of C18+UFA also indicate that these fish are safe from a nutritional point of view. The fatty acid indices HH (32.10–74.30), NVI (0.83–2.14), DI(18) (65.50–89.28), DI(16) (18.45–32.96), UI (131.93–278.64) and PI (88.60–314.90) were also studied. However, higher PUFA/SFA and <italic>de minimis</italic> EPA+DHA/Hg ratios compared to the recommended ratios suggest further research in this area is needed.</p>
</abstract>

The concentration of mercury, fatty acids and lipid quality indices were determined in three species of fish (European eel, Anguilla anguilla Linnaeus, 1758, Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 and roach, Rutilus rutilus Linnaeus, 1758). The fish were caught from a reservoir in the Warmia and Mazury region located near Olsztyn (north-eastern Poland). Mercury content was determined by atomic absorption thermal decomposition using Milestone DMA-80 (Italy), whereas fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography using a 7890A Agilent Technologies chromatograph. The total mercury concentration had the following sequence: European perch (0.297 mg/kg) > European eel (0.160 mg/kg) ≈ roach (0.100 mg/kg) (P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the mercury content and size (the body weight and total length) of these fish (P<0.0001). Based on the THQ, HI (<1.0) and BRQ (1.063), it was concluded that the fish does not pose a health risk and is fit for human consumption. Similarly, low AI and TI values (<1) are beneficial to human health related to reducing the risk of ischemic heart disease. A low OFA index of C12+C14+C18 and a high index of C18+UFA also indicate that these fish are safe from a nutritional point of view. The fatty acid indices HH (32.10–74.30), NVI (0.83–2.14), DI(18) (65.50–89.28), DI(16) (18.45–32.96), UI (131.93–278.64) and PI (88.60–314.90) were also studied. However, higher PUFA/SFA and de minimis EPA+DHA/Hg ratios compared to the recommended ratios suggest further research in this area is needed.

Assessing human risks and benefits associated with mercury contamination versus fatty acids and lipid quality indices in <italic>Anguilla anguilla</italic> L., <italic>Perca fluviatilis</italic> L. and <italic>Rutilus rutilus</italic> L. from the Olsztyn Lake District, Poland

Department of Commodity Science and Food Analysis

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Department of Ichthyology, Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecology

National Inland Fisheries Research Institute in Olsztyn

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Assessing human risks and benefits associated with mercury contamination versus fatty acids and lipid quality indices in  L.,  L. and  L. from the Olsztyn Lake District, Poland

The concentration of mercury, fatty acids and lipid quality indices were determined in three species of fish (European eel, Anguilla anguilla Linnaeus, 1758,...

Assessing human risks and benefits associated with mercury contamination versus fatty acids and lipid quality indices in Anguilla anguilla L., Perca fluviatilis L. and Rutilus rutilus L. from the Olsztyn Lake District, Poland

Published Online: Jul 19, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Sep 26, 2023

Accepted: May 29, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2024-0069

Keywords
freshwater fish, mercury, fatty acids, quality indices, THQ, BRQ

© 2024 Joanna Łuczyńska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Assessing human risks and benefits associated with mercury contamination versus fatty acids and lipid quality indices in Anguilla anguilla L., Perca fluviatilis L. and Rutilus rutilus L. from the Olsztyn Lake District, Poland

Published Online: Jul 19, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Sep 26, 2023

Accepted: May 29, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2024-0069

Keywordsfreshwater fish, mercury, fatty acids, quality indices, THQ, BRQ

© 2024 Joanna Łuczyńska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
freshwater fish, mercury, fatty acids, quality indices, THQ, BRQ