Contamination survey of heavy metals and organochlorine compounds in cetacean products purchased in Japan

Abstract

Cetacean products from a variety of odontoceti and mysticeti whales were purchased from markets in six cities across Japan in February 1999. After genetic analyses, 61 products were analyzed for heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb) and organochlorine compounds (PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, HCB, and dieldrin). Levels of mercury and methylmercury in odontoceti products were 2.13 ppm and 1.36 ppm on the wet weight basis (n=19), respectively, whereas the mercury level in mysticeti products was less than 0.09 ppm. Average PCB levels in odontoceti and mysticeti products (North Pacific minke whales) were 2.80 ppm (n=19) and 0.76 ppm (n=19), respectively, whereas the levels in mysticeti samples from the southern ocean were below 0.02 ppm. The data indicate that the dietary habit of cetaceans from the North Pacific Ocean could result in consumers exceeding the permitted intake for methylmercury and PCBs.