Analysis and Risk Assessment of Essential and Toxic Elements in Algerian Canned Tuna Fish

Abstract

In Algeria, the data and research on the essential and toxic chemical elements in food are limited and insufficient; therefore, the present study focused on evaluating the essential and toxic elements content in different 11 brands with two types (tomato and oil) of canned tuna fish, consumed in Algeria in 2022, by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), while mercury (Hg) levels were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry, as well as estimate the probabilistic risk assessment. The elements in canned tuna fish commercialized for human consumption in Algeria were determined by ICP-OES methods, The results showed that the heavy metal concentration in the samples under study ranged from 49.11 to 289.80 mg.kg^-1 (Ca), 0.0045 to 0.2598 mg.kg^-1 (Cd), 0.128 to 1.21 mg.kg^-1 (Cr), 8.55 to 35.94 mg.kg^-1 (Fe), 121.27 to 379.17 mg.kg^-1 (Mg), 0.0767 to 1.2928 mg.kg^-1 (Mn), 2.10 to 3.95 mg.kg^-1 (Mo), and 2.86 to 35.90 mg.kg^-1 (Zn), whereas Cu, Pb, Cu, Ni, and As were under limit of detection (LOD), while the toxic elements of mercury (Hg) levels were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry which showed a content ranged from 0.0186 to 0.0996 mg.kg^-1. The levels of mineral elements concentration were close to the minimum recommended by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Obtained data for this investigation can be suitable for Algerian food purposes.

Keywords: Algeria; Canned tuna fish; Food; Human health; ICP-OES method; Toxic elements.