Metal(loid) concentrations in shark meat commercialized in Brazil: Implications for human health and biological conservation

Abstract

Metal(loid) concentrations were assessed in samples of shark meat commercialized in Brazil. Samples were from sharks caught in Brazil (15%) or imported (85%) from Taiwan, Portugal, China, Spain, Uruguay, and Peru. Among the imported samples, 68% were labeled as blue shark (Prionace glauca). In addition, molecular identification performed in 226 samples (94.2%) indicated that all of them were of blue shark. Regarding metal(loid)s, Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, and Zn were quantified in all samples. Cd and Pb were quantified in 97.9% and 98.3% of the analyzed samples, respectively. For most of the analyzed metal(loid)s, concentration values observed were excessive when compared to those reported by the other studies with P. glauca or those permissible by different regulations from several regions around the world. This finding points to a potential risk for human health associated with the long-term dietary exposure to the excessive concentrations of metal(loid)s present in the analyzed samples. Our findings underscore the critical need to avoid consuming shark meat, not only to protect human health from the long-term risks posed by high metal(loid) concentrations but also to support global efforts in the biological conservation of shark populations.