Niveles de cadmio en atún fresco y enlatado para consumo humano en Ecuador

Abstract

Currently, cadmium bioaccumulation in fish is increasing and is a concern due to toxicity. This research is intended to define the Cadmium concentration in 36 samples of fresh tuna and canning, respectively from the Caraguay Market in the city of Guayaquil, the fishing port Santa Rosa (PPSR), and canned tuna for national consumption and export. The cadmium concentration in the tissue of the collected tuna samples was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Levels of cadmium concentration in the analyzed samples were compared to the national regulation norm NTE INEN 183 and 184, and the European Union regulation norm No 488/2014. According to those norms the maximum permissible cadmium content in foodstuff might not exceed 0.10 ppm Cd. In canned tuna for national consumption we found concentrations of 0.441±0.046 ppm Cd and in the canned tuna for export the cadmium level varied around 0.297±0.109 ppm; differences were however not statistically significant (p>0.05). Similarly, the Cd concentrations in fresh tuna of the species Katsuwonus pelamis was 0.385±0.174 ppm and of the species Thunnus albacares 0.295±0.187 ppm in the market of Caraguay. In contrast, Cd concentrations in tuna from the PPSR were much lower: 0.079 ± 0.061 ppm Cd and 0.030 ± 0.050 for Katsuwonus pelamis and Thunnus albacares, respectively. 66% of the analyzed samples exceeded the permissible limits of Cd according national and international standards. It is recommended to maintain a permanent health surveillance of tuna in Ecuador.