Food Additives & Contaminants: Part B

Surveillance

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Total mercury, cadmium and lead levels in main

export fish of Sri Lanka

B.K.K.K. Jinadasa, E.M.R.K.B. Edirisinghe & I. Wickramasinghe

To cite this article: B.K.K.K. Jinadasa, E.M.R.K.B. Edirisinghe & I. Wickramasinghe (2014) Total
mercury, cadmium and lead levels in main export fish of Sri Lanka, Food Additives & Contaminants:
Part B, 7:4, 309-314, DOI: 10.1080/19393210.2014.938131

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Food Additives & Contaminants: Part B, 2014
Vol. 7, No. 4, 309–314, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19393210.2014.938131

Total mercury, cadmium and lead levels in main export fish of Sri Lanka
B.K.K.K. Jinadasaa*, E.M.R.K.B. Edirisingheb and I. Wickramasinghec
a
Institute of Post-Harvest Technology, National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA), Colombo, Sri Lanka;
b
Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka; cDepartment of
Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
(Received 4 February 2014; accepted 20 June 2014)

Total mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels were determined in the muscle of four commercialised exported fish
species Thunnus albacares (yellowfin tuna), Xiphias gladius (swordfish), Makaira indica (black marlin) and Lutjanus sp
(red snapper) collected from the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, during July 2009–March 2010 and measured by atomic
absorption spectrophotometry. Results show that swordfish (n = 176) contained the highest total Hg (0.90 ± 0.51 mg/kg)
and Cd (0.09 ± 0.13 mg/kg) levels, whereas yellowfin tuna (n = 140) contained the highest Pb levels (0.11 ± 0.16 mg/kg).
The lowest total Hg (0.16 ± 0.11 mg/kg), Cd (0.01 ± 0.01 mg/kg) and Pb (0.04 ± 0.04 mg/kg) levels were found in red
snapper (n = 28). Black marlin (n = 24) contained moderate levels of total Hg (0.49 ± 0.37), Cd (0.02 ± 0.02) and Pb
(0.05 ± 0.05). Even though there are some concerns during certain months of the year, this study demonstrates the safety of
main export fish varieties in terms of total Hg, Cd and Pb.
Keyword: mercury; cadmium; lead; export; fish; Sri Lanka

Introduction through food, gill and skin accumulate in their body

Sri Lanka is a small tropical island in the Indian Ocean off
the southern tip of India having an Exclusive Economic
Zone area of 517,000 km2. Capture fisheries produced
293,170 MT, and total fisheries production including
aquaculture was 339,170 MT in 2009. This was an
increase in seafood production by 6.8% compared to the
previous year. The total contribution of the fisheries sub-
sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) was 1.7% in
2009. The Sri Lankan fisheries sector is an important
contributor to export value. Fish is also the main source
of animal protein for the Sri Lankan population. Yellowfin
tuna (Thunnus albacares), swordfish (Xiphias gladius),
skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and marlin (Makira
sp.) are the most important export fishes in Sri Lanka and
make a significant contribution to foreign earnings. In
2009, Sri Lanka exported 5.5% of its total landings
(about 18,715 MT) and earned 21 million USD. Annual
production of yellowfin tuna in Sri Lanka in 2008 was
33,027 MT while for swordfish it was 779 MT, skipjack
tuna 78,860 MT and marlin 2408 MT. Sri Lanka’s yellow-
fin tuna and other marine fishes are imported by countries
within the European Union (EU), USA, Japan, and other
non-EU countries (FAO 2009; NARA 2009).
Some metals like copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essen-
tial for fish metabolism while other metals like mercury
(Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) have no known biolo-
gical role. For the normal metabolism of fish, the essential
and non-essential metals taken up from water or sediment
tissues (Kamaruzzaman et al. 2010). Predators like sword-
fish, yellowfin tuna and sharks are at the top of the food
chain. Therefore, large amounts of metals may accumulate
in their bodies (Yilmaz 2009) that can be harmful to
consumers’ health. Provisional tolerable weekly intakes
(PTWIs) are used to assess the relative safety of food for
human consumption. PTWI depends on the amount, con-
sumption period and contamination level of consumed
food (Turkmen et al. 2008). The Joint FAO/WHO Expert
Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) established
PTWIs for total Hg, Pb and Cd.
The levels of histamine and trace metals are the main
concern of seafood export industry in Sri Lanka. The
European Union’s rapid alert system for food and feed
(RASFF) notified 23 and 28 cases for Sri Lankan exports
in the years 2008 and 2009, where only three and five of
these cases were related to heavy metal contamination in
fish which exceeded the maximum limits, respectively.
Even though the number of alerts regarding the heavy
metal concentration in fish imported into the EU from
Sri Lanka slightly increased in 2009, the number of alerts
decreased to three in 2010 (European Commission 2011).
The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement, to
which Sri Lanka is a signatory, requires exporting or
importing countries to certify that a product is of good
quality and safe before it is consumed (WTO 2010). In
addition, there are many international, regional and
national regulations regarding seafood safety. Sri Lanka

*Corresponding author. Email: jinadasa76@gmail.com

© 2014 Taylor & Francis

310 B.K.K.K. Jinadasa et al.
Table 1. MLs for metals in the studied fish species in EU and
Sri Lankan regulations.
MLs (mg/kg), wet
weight basis
Fish species Total Hg Cd Pb
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) 1.0 0.1 0.2
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) 1.0 0.3 0.2
Black marlin (Makaira indica) 1.0 0.05 0.2
Red snapper (Lutjanus sp.) 0.5 0.05 0.2
is yet to implement appropriate procedures to ascertain the
quality of seafood before it is exported or put on the local
market. The export regulation of seafood products from
Sri Lanka is currently based on EU regulations. The max-
imum limits (MLs) of trace metals differ from one seafood
to another based on risk assessment. Sri Lanka follows the
regulation established by the EU for MLs for Cd, Pb and
total Hg in seafood (European Commission 2006) and the
Sri Lanka export regulation of fish in GOSL (1996). These
MLs of contaminants in target fish species are shown in
Table 1.
This study was conducted to determine total Hg, Cd
and Pb concentrations in the edible muscle tissue of Sri
Lankan main export fish species and to assess the seasonal
variations. It is an extension of a former study where only
swordfish (X. gladius) was investigated on total Hg
(Jinadasa et al. 2013). The results were compared with
MLs as set by the EU to identify any potential risk related
to dietary exposure of metal contaminants by consuming
these fishes.
Materials and methods
A total of 364 fishes were sampled (yellowfin tuna
n = 140, swordfish n = 176, black marlin n = 24 and
red snapper n = 24) from five fish-exporting companies
during July 2009 to March 2010. Length and weight of
fish were measured. Approximately 250 g of edible por-
tion of the belly area was obtained and placed in separate
vacuum-packed bags. Samples were transported in a
cooler to the analytical chemistry laboratory of NARA
(the National Aquatic Resources Research and
Development Agency) and stored at –20°C in the freezer
until further analysis.
Cadmium and lead were determined using an in-house
graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopic (GF-
AAS) method, based on AOAC 990.10 (AOAC 2002a)
with a Varian GTA 120 atomic absorption spectrometer,
equipped with a computer-controlled auto sampler (Varian
PSD-120, Varian Australia Ltd, Victoria, Australia). Total
mercury was determined using a cold vapour system (CV-
AAS), based on AOAC 971.21 (AOAC 2002b) with a
Varian VGA 77. All chemicals used were at least analy-
tical reagent grade. Standard solutions of total Hg, Cd and
Pb, each having a concentration of 1000 mg/L, were
obtained from Fluka (Buchs, Switzerland). All glassware
used was first soaked overnight in a liquid detergent solu-
tion in tap water, thoroughly rinsed with tap water and
soaked in 10% (v/v) HNO3 overnight. Subsequent rinsing
was performed using deionised water. All glassware was
oven-dried and plastic ware was air-dried prior to use.
Approximately 1 g of fish sample was weighed into
microwave vessels and mineralised using the closed vessel
acid digestion method. Portions of samples with 10 mL of
conc. HNO3 (65%, AR- Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO,
USA) were added to 100 mL digestion bombs and allowed
for 15 minutes in the fume hood for pre-digestion. Two
reagent blanks, two spiked samples and two certified
quality control materials, were prepared for each batch of
analysis in a similar manner as samples without adding
samples to the digestion vessels. Each sample was ana-
lysed in duplicate. Pre-digestion samples were digested
under pressure using a microwave oven (CEM-Mass XP-
1500 +, Matthews, USA). The digestion conditions were
400 PSI pressure, 200°C temperature and 10 min holding
time. The digested samples were quantitatively transferred
into 50 mL volumetric flasks and made up to 50 mL with
deionised water. Using the standard metal solution series,
a calibration curve for each metal was obtained. After the
standard curve was made, reagent blanks, samples, quality
control samples and spikes were placed in the AAS.
The accuracy of the analytical procedure was main-
tained using the following ways throughout the analysis
period. Certified quality control material (canned fish mus-
cle, T/0774 from FAPAS, UK for total Hg and Cd) and
spiked samples (for Pb) were routinely treated and ana-
lysed in the same manner as the samples. Recoveries were
101 ± 7% for total Hg (certified value and determined
value were 19.9 and 20.01 μg/kg, respectively), 98 ± 9%
for Cd (certified value and determined value were 2.59
and 2.54 μg/kg, respectively) and 93 ± 6% for Pb spiked
sample. Concentrations are expressed in mg/kg wet weight
(ww). The analytical chemical laboratory at NARA has
participated in the proficiency testing programme of the
Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS)
for Total Hg within the same period, with satisfactory
results (assigned value 150 μg/kg, NARA result
153.19 μg/kg, z = 0. 1, FAPAS, proficiency test 07115
(Proficiency Testing Report 2009), metallic contaminents
in canned fish, February–March 2009, The Food and
Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, UK).
The average field blank, derived from sample field blanks,
and three times its standard deviation and were used to
evaluate the limit of detection (LOD). The limit of quan-
tification (LOQ) was 3 × LOD. Statistical analysis was
performed using Microsoft Excel, 2011, SPSS (Statistical
Package for Social Sciences) 16 software.
 Food Additives & Contaminants: Part B 311

Table 2. Weight (kg) and length (cm), presented as mean and range, for each fish species.

Yellowfin tuna Swordfish Black marlin Red snapper

Mean weight 45.3 (18.0–83.5) 44.9 (11.8–112.0) 53.9 (25.0–118.0) 3.9 (1.3–7.3)
Mean length 123.4 (64.0–173.0) 136.5 (45.0–278.0) 156.6 (90.0–210.0) 53.1 (38.0–75.0)

Results tuna analysed (n = 140), total Hg concentrations were over

Swordfish data on total Hg were obtained from the former
study (Jinadasa et al. 2013), which also gives more details
regarding the applied procedures. The variation of fish weight
and length is shown in Table 2. The highest mean length was
recorded for marlin (156.6 cm), and the lowest mean length
was recorded for red snapper (53.1 cm). Mean lengths of
yellowfin tuna and swordfish were 123.4 and 136.5 cm,
respectively. Highest mean weight was recorded for black
marlin (53.9 kg), and lowest mean weight was recorded for
red snapper (3.9 kg). The mean weights of yellowfin tuna and
swordfish were 45.3 and 44.9 kg, respectively.
Levels of total Hg
The highest mean total Hg concentration was recorded for
swordfish (0.90 mg/kg, wet weight), and the lowest was
recorded for red snapper (0.16 mg/kg, wet weight). Mean
total Hg concentrations of yellowfin tuna and black marlin
were 0.30 and 0.49 mg/kg wet weight, respectively (Table 3).
However, the MLs of total Hg in yellowfin tuna and red
snapper are not exceeded even in any single sample. This
differed for marlin and swordfish. In 55% of total yellowfin
Table 3. Mean, range and percentage samples exceeding ML
(mg/kg) in each fish species for Total Hg.
Fish Mean Range
0.25 mg/kg, with 3% showing values over 0.75 mg/kg, near
the European legislation limit of 1 mg/kg. About 46% of
yellowfin tuna samples showed a value below 0.50 mg/kg.
However, 32% of swordfish samples exceeded the ML
(1 mg/kg) of European legislation. Further, only 2% of
swordfish samples were below 0.25 mg/kg, and only 23%
of swordfish samples contained less than 0.50 mg/kg.
Seasonal variation of total Hg
According to results in yellowfin tuna and swordfish
obtained on a monthly basis (Table 4), the highest
mercury concentration of yellowfin tuna was detected
in September 2009 (0.41 mg/kg), and the lowest in
November and December (0.19 mg/kg). However, the
ML of 1 mg/kg total Hg in yellowfin tuna was not
exceeded in any month. The highest monthly mean
total Hg level of swordfish was detected in August
2009 (1.32 mg/kg), while the lowest value (0.41 mg/
kg) was detected in January 2010. The ML (1 mg/kg)
of total Hg in swordfish was exceeded in August and
September 2009, where 79% out of 37 and 44% out of
26 swordfish samples tested in August and September
2009 exceeded the ML, respectively. Monthly varia-
tions in red snapper and marlin could not be calculated
due to inadequate number of samples.
% >ML

Yellowfin tuna 0.30 ± 0.18 <0.007–0.98 0 Levels of Cd and Pb

Swordfish 0.90 ± 0.52 0.18–2.58 32 Normally fish species show lower levels of Cd and Pb
Black marlin 0.49 ± 0.37 0.11–1.51 13
Red snapper 0.16 ± 0.11 <0.007–0.46 0 compared to total Hg. The highest Cd level was detected
in swordfish (0.087 mg/kg) and the lowest in red snapper

Table 4. Seasonal variation (mean and range) of Total Hg level (mg/kg) in yellowfin tuna and swordfish muscle.

Yellowfin tuna Swordfish

Month of the year Mean % >ML Mean % >ML

July 2009 0.33 (<0.007–0.77) 0 0.80 (0.34–2.15) 19.4

Aug. 0.27 (<0.007–0.98) 0 1.32 (0.42–2.16) 97.4
Sep. 0.41 (0.14–0.88) 0 1.07 (0.20–2.58) 44.4
Oct. 0.32 (0.09–0.67) 0 0.84 (0.39–1.84) 28.6
Nov. 0.19 (0.06–0.44) 0 0.48 (0.18–0.73) 0
Dec. 0.19 (0.08–0.41) 0 0.63 (0.34–1.12) 14.3
Jan. 2010 0.25 (0.12–0.34) 0 0.41 (0.25–0.56) 0
Feb. 0.29 (0.09–0.53) 0 0.61 (0.27–1.16) 8.3
March 0.31 (0.19–0.50) 0 0.83 (0.26–1.43) 33.3
312 B.K.K.K. Jinadasa et al.

Table 5. Cd and Pb concentrations (mg/kg, mean and range) in
fish muscle.
Fish Cd Pb
Yellowfin tuna 0.01 (<0.001–0.09) 0.11 (<0.001–0.91)
Sword fish 0.09 (<0.001–1.2) 0.08 (<0.001–0.81)
Black marlin 0.02 (0.001–0.11) 0.05 (<0.001–0.17)
Red snapper 0.01 (<0.001–0.05) 0.04 (<0.001–0.14)
(0.013 mg/kg). Mean Cd levels of marlin and yellowfin
tuna were 0.023 and 0.014 mg/kg, respectively (Table 5).
The MLs of Cd were marginally exceeded in a few num-
ber of fish samples. The MLs were not exceeded in yel-
lowfin tuna and red snapper, but four swordfish samples
(2.3%) and three marlin samples (12.5%) exceeded the
MLs for Cd. The highest Pb concentration was found in
yellowfin tuna (0.11 mg/kg), followed by swordfish
(0.08 mg/kg), marlin (0.05 mg/kg) and red snapper
(0.04 mg/kg), respectively (Table 5). Among the samples
studied, 18 samples (12.9%) of yellowfin tuna and 16
samples of swordfish (9.1%) exceeded the MLs for Pb.
Observed Pb concentrations in red snapper and marlin did
not exceed the MLs.
Discussion
Fin fish is the major source of total mercury and methyl
mercury intake for humans (EFSA 2004). Especially
large predatory fishes at the top of the food chain,
such as swordfish, yellowfin tuna and marlin, are sig-
nificant sources of human exposure to methyl mercury.
The PTWI is 5 µg/kg body weight for total mercury and
1.6 µg/kg body weight for methyl mercury (JECFA
2003, 2006). It could be exceeded depending on the
species and fish quantity consumed. Further, a reference
dose (RfD) of 0.1 µg/kg body weight per day for
methyl mercury has been established by the US envir-
onmental protection agency (US EPA 2001). The life
stage of the embryo and foetus is more sensitive to
methyl mercury (JECFA 2006). However, consumption
of approximately twice the existing PTWI 1.6 µg/kg
would not pose any risk of neurotoxicity in adults.
The present study showed relatively high levels of mer-
cury in predatory species such as swordfish and marlin.
Total Hg levels were similar to other studies in sword-
fish and yellowfin tuna from oceans around the world
(Table 6).
Compared to tuna, black marlin and red snappers,
swordfish have a wider geographical distribution than
other fishes and regularly move between surface to great
depth even 1000 m and more. Swordfish migrates season-
ally to warmer water in winter and to cooler water in
summer (FAO 2009). Juvenile swordfish is most abundant
in tropical and subtropical areas, while they migrate to
lower latitudes when they become mature. Their diet var-
ies with the availability of food sources and the geogra-
phical location. Furthermore, swordfish is a long-living
fish species with higher metabolic rates. Therefore they
have a greater affinity to accumulate trace metals like total
Hg (Monteiro & Lopes 1990; Penjai et al. 2008). As the
swordfish migration pattern around Sri Lanka has not been
well studied and the migration pattern could not be tested,
a potential correlation between total Hg concentrations
and migration patterns could not be established in this
study.
The accumulation of Cd is proportionally less
oriented towards accumulation of muscle than total
Hg. The Cd is however highly toxic (Jarup 2003). The
threshold concentration of Cd in fish muscle destined
for human consumption set by the EU is 10 times lower
than that set for total Hg in yellowfin tuna. Interestingly
the accumulation pattern of Cd in fish differs from that
of other vertebrates such as birds, mammals and turtles
in which kidney is the target tissue for Cd. In a similar
study done in the Western Indian ocean, comparatively
lower Cd concentrations were reported in fish muscle
samples with swordfish and yellowfin tuna having Cd
levels of 1.04 ± 1.09 and 0.25 ± 0.21 µg/g on dry
weight basis, respectively (Kojadinovic et al. 2006).

Table 6. Hg levels (mg/kg) in swordfish and yellowfin tuna muscle from various geographic areas.

Fish Origin Sex Mean ± SD Reference

Swordfish Mozambique channel F/M 0.38 ± 0.26 Kojadinovic et al. (2006)

Reunion Island F/M 1.24 ± 0.83 Kojadinovic et al. (2006)
Atlantic Ocean F/M 0.62 ± 0.35 Mendez et al. (2001)
Atlantic Ocean F 0.93 ± 0.07 Monteiro and Lopes (1990)
Atlantic Ocean M 1.30 ± 0.17 Monteiro and Lopes (1990), Adams (2004)
Indian Ocean F/M 0.90 ± 0.52 This study
Yellowfin tuna Mozambique channel F/M 0.13 ± 0.09 Kojadinovic et al. (2006)
Reunion Island F/M 0.21 ± 0.15 Kojadinovic et al. (2006)
Seychelles _ 0.23 ± 0.10 Matthews (1983)
Pacific Ocean _ 0.21 ± 0.11 Kraepiel et al. (2003)
Atlantic Ocean F/M 0.25 ± 0.12 Adams (2004)

Blanco et al. (2008) have reported 0.14 mg/kg Cd in
swordfish in Galicia, Spain, and Jaffar et al. (1993) have
reported 0.35 mg/kg Cd in yellowfin tuna of comparable
size from Arabian Sea. Kojadinovic et al. (2006) inves-
tigated the concentration of Pb in swordfish and yellow-
fin tuna in the Western Indian Ocean and reported
0.12 ± 0.12 and 0.09 ± 0.14 µg/g in dry weight basis
and emphasised that the volcanic activity is one of the
largest natural inputs of Pb in the atmosphere.
Conclusion
The level of trace metals in Sri Lankan export fish
species is generally safe according to the European
legislation. However, higher levels of mercury in sword-
fish and marlin need to be considered when dealing
with particularly sensitive sectors (pregnant women,
lactating women, infants and children) of the popula-
tion. Analytical monitoring of seafood is necessary to
ensure a safe supply of raw material to importers and
finally to consumers.
Funding
The authors wish to thank the National Aquatic Resources
Research and Development Agency for the financial assistance
and laboratory staff of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory/IPHT/
NARA and fish export factories for giving support for sampling.
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