Reports

Niðurstöður sívirkrar vöktunar á óæskilegum efnum í sjávarfangi úr auðlindinni 2024 / Undesirable substances in seafood – results from the Icelandic marine monitoring activities in the year 2024

Published:

09/01/2025

Authors:

Rebecca Sim, Julija Igorsdóttir, Maja Radujko, Natasa Desnica

Supported by:

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

Contact

Rebecca Sim

Specialist

rebecca@matis.is

Í þessari skýrslu eru teknar saman niðurstöður vöktunar á óæskilegum efnum í ætum hluta sjávarfangs 2024. Vöktunin hófst árið 2003 fyrir tilstuðlan þáverandi Sjávarútvegsráðuneytis, núverandi Matvælaráðuneytið, og sá Matís ohf. um að safna gögnum og útgáfu á skýrslum vegna þessarar kerfisbundnu vöktunar á tímabilinu 2003-2012. Vegna skorts á fjármagni í þetta vöktunarverkefni var gert hlé á þessari mikilvægu gagnasöfnun sem og útgáfu niðurstaðna á tímabilinu 2013-2016. Verkefnið hófst aftur í mars 2017 en vegna fjárskorts nær það nú eingöngu yfir vöktun á óæskilegum efnum í ætum hluta sjávarfangs úr auðlindinni sem ætlað er til manneldis, en ekki fiskimjöl og lýsi fyrir fóður. Af sömu ástæðu eru ekki lengur gerðar efnagreiningar á PAH og PBDE efnum.

Markmiðið með verkefninu er að sýna fram á stöðu íslenskra sjávarafurða m.t.t. öryggi og heilnæmis og hægt að nýta gögnin við gerð áhættumats á matvælum til að tryggja hagsmuni neytenda og lýðheilsu. Verkefnið byggir upp þekkingargrunn um magn óæskilegra efna í efnahagslega mikilvægum tegundum og sjávarafurðum, það er skilgreint sem langtímaverkefni þar sem útvíkkun og endurskoðun er stöðugt nauðsynleg.

Almennt voru niðurstöðurnar sem fengust 2024 í samræmi við fyrri niðurstöður frá árunum 2003 til 2012 sem og 2017 til 2023. Niðurstöðurnar sýndu að íslenskar sjávarafurðir innihalda óverulegt magn þrávirkra lífrænna efna s.s. díoxín, PCB og varnarefni. í þessari skýrslu voru hámarksgildi Evrópusambandsins (ESB) fyrir díoxín, díoxínlík PCB (DL-PCB) og ekki díoxínlík PCB (NDL-PCB) í matvælum samkvæmt reglugerð nr. 2023/915 notuð til að meta hvernig íslenskar sjávarafurðir standast kröfur ESB. Niðurstöður ársins 2024 sýna að öll sýni af sjávarafurðum til manneldis voru undir hámarksgildum ESB fyrir þrávirk lífræn efni og þungmálma. Þá reyndist styrkur svokallaðra ICES6-PCB efna vera lágur í ætum hluta sjávarfangs, miðað við hámarksgildi ESB samkvæmt reglugerð nr. 2023/915. Sömuleiðis sýndu niðurstöðurnar að styrkur þungmálma, t.d. kadmíum (Cd), blý (Pb) og kvikasilfur (Hg) í íslenskum sjávarafurðum var alltaf undir hámarksgildum ESB.
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This report summarises the results obtained in 2024 for the screening of various undesirable substances in the edible part of Icelandic marine catches.

The main aim of this project is to gather data and evaluate the status of Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances and the data can be utilised to estimate the exposure of consumers to these substances from Icelandic seafood and risks related to public health. The surveillance programme began in 2003 and was carried out for ten consecutive years before it was interrupted in 2013. The project was revived in March 2017 to fill in knowledge gaps regarding the level of undesirable substances in economically important marine catches for Icelandic export. Due to financial limitations the monitoring now only covers screening for undesirable substances in the edible portion of marine catches for human consumption and not feed or feed components. The limited financial resources also required the analysis of PAHs and PBDEs to be excluded from the monitoring, providing somewhat more limited information than before. However, it is considered a long-term project where extension and revision are constantly necessary.

In general, the results obtained in 2024 were in agreement with previous results on undesirable substances in the edible part of marine catches obtained in the monitoring years 2003 to 2012 and 2017 to 2023.

In this report from the monitoring programme, the maximum levels for dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and non-dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs (Commission Regulation 2023/915) were used to evaluate how Icelandic seafood products measure up to limits currently in effect.

The results show that in regard to the maximum levels set in the regulation, the edible parts of Icelandic seafood products contain negligible amounts of dioxins, dioxin like and non-dioxin-like PCBs. In fact, all samples of seafood analysed in 2024 were below EC maximum levels.

Furthermore, the concentration of ICES-6-PCBs was found to be low in the edible part of the marine catches, compared to the maximum limits set by the EU (Commission Regulation 2023/915). The results also revealed that the concentration of toxic trace elements, i.e., cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in the edible part of marine catches were below the relevant maximum limits set by the EU in all samples.

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Reports

Distribution of arsenic species by seaweed parts, especially arsenic lipids

Published:

02/04/2024

Authors:

Rebecca Sim, Ásta H. Pétursdóttir, Natasa Desnica, Jörg Feldmann, Guðmundur Haraldsson, Karl Gunnarsson, Liberty O'Brien, Marta Weyer and Hildur I. Sveinsdóttir.

Supported by:

Icelandic Research Fund

Contact

Rebecca Sim

Specialist

rebecca@matis.is

Distribution of arsenic species within the macroalgae 
– an emphasis on arsenolipids

Algae are rich in minerals and desirable bioactive substances, but they can also absorb large amounts of trace elements, such as toxic heavy metals, including the element arsenic. Arsenic is found as inorganic arsenic in the sea and is taken up in that chemical form by the algae. In the algae, however, arsenic is detected not only as inorganic arsenic but as a wide range of arsenic compounds, so-called organic compounds of arsenic, for example arsenosaccharides and arsenolipids. There is still a lot of mystery about the origin of these compounds. In general, organic forms of arsenic have been considered quite harmless, unlike inorganic arsenic, which is a known carcinogen. However, recent studies on arsenolipids have shown that they can be as cytotoxic as inorganic arsenic. It is also believed that arsenosugar can possibly have long-term negative effects with regular consumption. Levels of arsenolipids are generally not high in algae, but the starting point of their production is thought to occur in algae. Algae are part of the regular food intake in the Eastern part of the world and are becoming increasingly popular in the West, so more information about these compounds is urgently needed to fully assess the risks associated with their consumption as well as to ensure that appropriate regulations are put in place regarding their maximum levels in foodstuffs. In order to understand the toxicological effects of algae consumption, it is extremely important that more data be collected on all the different chemical forms of arsenic, in particular on arsenolipids, but limited information is currently available on them. Samples of red, green and brown algae were collected near Grindavík and Kjalarnes, at two different points in time. The samples were thoroughly analyzed for heavy metals and arsenic analysis was carried out to better understand the chemical form in which the arsenic was present. Selected samples of brown, red and green algae were measured for species analysis of arsenolipids using mass spectrometry HPLC-ICP-M/ESI-MS/MS and HPLC-qToF-MS. In addition, brown macroalgae were divided into biological fractions to determine whether the distribution of arsenic species is uniform throughout the seaweed. Limited information exists globally on arsenolipids in seaweed, so this extensive profiling of them in different species of algae will help elucidate how these enigmatic organic compounds are formed and where they are stored. The data can also be used for risk assessment of arsenic species in seaweed for human consumption and can therefore influence future food safety legislation.
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In recent years seaweed has gained popularity as a health food due to its high content of minerals and vitamins. However, seaweeds may also accumulate high levels of potentially toxic elements – in particular arsenic, which may become incorporated into larger biological molecules such as sugars and lipids. It is unclear how these organic arsenic compounds are formed/stored and if they may serve a biological purpose (ie, detoxification or energy storage). However, toxicological studies into arsenic-containing lipids have demonstrated cytotoxicity comparable to that of arsenite, a known carcinogen, and arsenic-containing sugars are suspected to display toxicity with chronic exposure. This project aims to investigate variations in the distribution of arsenic compounds throughout several classes and species of seaweed. Samples of brown, red and green macroalgae were collected from two locations in Iceland across two different months and analyzed for several potentially toxic elements as well as hydrophilic arsenic speciation using HPLC-ICP-MS. Brown macroalgae were additionally sectioned into anatomical parts to determine if the distribution of arsenic species differs throughout the thallus. Select samples were chosen for state-of-the-art lipophilic arsenic speciation using HPLC-ICP-MS/ESI-MS/MS and HPLC-qToF-MS. Limited information is available on arsenic speciation in seaweed thus it is hoped that this extensive profiling of several different species will help elucidate how these unusual compounds are formed and stored. The data from this project will also contribute to the necessary information needed for the risk assessment of arsenic species in seaweed for human consumption and may have an impact on future food safety legislation.

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Reports

Results of continuous monitoring of unwanted substances in seafood from the resource 2023 

Published:

21/02/2024

Authors:

Sophie Jensen, Julija Igorsdóttir, Natasa Desnica

Supported by:

Ministry of Food

Contact

Sophie Jensen

Project Manager

sophie.jensen@matis.is

This report summarizes the results of the monitoring of undesirable substances in the edible part of seafood in 2023. The monitoring began in 2003 with the assistance of the then Ministry of Maritime Affairs, now the Food Ministry, and saw Matís ohf. on collecting data and issuing reports for this systematic monitoring in the period 2003-2012. Due to the lack of funding for this monitoring project, this important data collection as well as the publication of the results was paused in the period 2013-2016. The project started again in March 2017, but due to a lack of funds, it now only covers the monitoring of undesirable substances in the edible part of seafood from the resource intended for human consumption, and not fishmeal and fish oil for feed. For the same reason, chemical analyzes of PAH and PBDE substances are no longer carried out. In 2023, measurements of PFAS substances were added.

The aim of the project is to demonstrate the status of Icelandic seafood in terms of safety and wholesomeness, and that the data can be used in the preparation of food risk assessments to ensure the interests of consumers and public health. The project builds a knowledge base on the amount of unwanted substances in economically important species and marine products, it is defined as a long-term project where expansion and revision are constantly necessary.

In general, the results obtained in 2023 were consistent with previous results from 2003 to 2012 as well as 2017 to 2022. The results showed that Icelandic seafood contains insignificant amounts of persistent organic substances such as dioxins, PCBs and pesticides. in this report, the European Union (EU) maximum levels for dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) and non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) in food according to Regulation no. 2023/915 used to assess how Icelandic seafood meets EU requirements. The results of the year 2023 show that all samples of marine products for human consumption were below the EU maximum values for persistent organic substances and heavy metals. The concentration of so-called ICES6-PCB substances was found to be low in the edible part of seafood, compared to the EU maximum value according to regulation no. 2023/915. Likewise, the results showed that the concentration of heavy metals, eg cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in Icelandic seafood was always below the EU maximum values. The concentration of PFAS was below the EU maximum value, for all samples except cod roe.

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Reports

Seaweed supplementation to mitigate methane (CH4) emissions by cattle

Published:

27/09/2021

Authors:

Dr. Ásta H. Pétursdóttir (Matís), Dr. Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir (Matís), Natasa Desnica (Matís), Aðalheiður Ólafsdóttir (Matís), Susanne Kuenzel (University of Hohenheim), Dr. Markus Rodehutscord (University of Hohenheim), Dr. Chris Reynolds (University of Reading), Dr. David Humphries (University of Reading), James Draper (ABP).

Supported by:

EIT Food

Contact

Ásta Heiðrún E. Pétursdóttir

Project Manager

asta.h.petursdottir@matis.is

SeaCH4NGE results include a detailed analysis of the chemical composition of seaweed, including heavy metals and nutritional composition. Iodine concentration proved to be the main limiting factor regarding seaweed as a feed supplement. The decrease in methane observed in laboratory methane production experiments (in vitro) is likely due to compounds called fluorotannin rather than bromoform, a known substance that can reduce methane production in ruminants. In vitro screening of the seaweed showed a moderate decrease in methane, but lower methane production was dependent on seaweed species. The reduction was dose-dependent, ie by using more algae, a greater methane reduction could be seen in vitro. The same two types of seaweed were used in the Rusitec experiment (in vitro), which is a very comprehensive analysis that provides further information. An in-vivo study in cows showed that feeding cattle with a mixture of brown algae has a relatively small effect on methane emissions. However, fluorotannins are known to have other beneficial effects when consumed by ruminants. The report also includes a survey of British cow farmers' attitudes towards algae feeding and climate change.

Skýrslan er lokuð / This report is closed

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