Hygienic aspects of accumulation of arsenic in fish grown in natural and artificial conditions

Introduction. World consumption of fish per capita will reach 21.2 kg in 2030, compared to an average of 20.5 kg in 2018–2020. Fish accumulate arsenic, which then enters the human body with food. An acute problem is the hygienic aspects of accumulation of arsenic in fish grown in natural and artificial (aquaculture) conditions.

Purpose of the study. Assessment of hygienic safety for consumers when eating fish grown under natural conditions versus those raised on fish farms.

Materials and methods. The objects of the study are Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). The methods of isolating total arsenic and inorganic arsenic by microwave decomposition, as well as the method of sequential fractionation for isolating arsenic in the form of complex organic compounds were used. Arsenic in all fractions and forms of existence of the element was determined by ICP-MC. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were calculated.

Results. Data on arsenic distribution in sturgeon parts and organs were obtained. Based on this, the following sequence of total arsenic decrease was compiled: liver > (intestine + stomach) with contents > caviar ≈ fillet > head (without gills) > skeleton with visiga > gills > skin without scales. Up to 27% of all accumulated arsenic is associated with adipose tissue with the formation of complex compounds with lipids. The levels of carcinogenic risk for inorganic forms of arsenic according to the acceptance criteria are below the target risk value. None of the sturgeon samples had non-carcinogenic risk values > 1.

Research limitations. Only one species of fish (sturgeon) was used in the studies.

Conclusion. The conducted sequential fractionation of arsenic forms allowed detecting the proportion of fat-soluble, water-soluble arsenic compounds in sturgeon fillets and caviar in relation to the total content. Comparative analysis of arsenic compounds in fish grown in natural and artificial conditions did not reveal significant differences in its distribution between the two methods of cultivation. As a result of the conducted studies, the use of Siberian sturgeon was established to do not pose a danger to human health.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require a biomedical ethics committee opinion.

Contribution of the authors:
Rakitskiy V.N., Onishchenko G.G., Fedorova N.E. — concept and design of the study;
Bondareva L.G. — collection and processing of material, writing the text, editing;
Fedorova N.E. — collection and processing of material, writing the text, editing.
All co-authors — approved the final version of the article, are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to the staff of the Center for Collective Use of the Siberian Federal University for assistance in conducting the research. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

 Received: November 25, 2024 / Accepted: December 11, 2024 / Published: February 28, 2025