Contamination survey of mercury in whale products and its safety

2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 14572112
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Environmental pharmacy
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
• Principal Investigator: ENDO Tetsuya Health Silences University of Hokkaido, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Silences, Assistant professor, 薬学部, 講師 (10133216)
• Project Period (FY): 2002 – 2004
• Keywords: Whale / Dolphin / Methyl mercury / Tuna / Food contamination / Fetus

Research Abstract

Contamination levels of mercury in internal organs of toothed whales sold in Wakayama Prefecture were extremely high, enough to cause the acute intoxication. The highest concentration of total mercury found in liver was about 2000 ppm (Sci. Total Environ., 300, 15-22, 2002).
Oral administration of boiled liver of toothed whale containing about 2000 ppm to rats caused the acute renal intoxication (Arch. Environ. Contain Toxicol., 44,412-416, 2003).
Marked differences in contamination levels of mercury were found among odontocete species and caught off areas (Environ. Sci. Technol., 37, 2681-2685, 2003).
The highest concentrations of total methyl mercury of methyl mercury found in red meat originating from a false killer whale were 81 and 26.2 ppm, respectively (Cehmosphere, 54, 1653-1662, 2004).
The occasional consumption of red meat from small cetaceans could pose a health problem for not only pregnant women but also for general population (Chmosphese, in press).
The organochlorine contaminants extracted from whale products was readily transferred to rat embryos in the whale embryo cultured system and caused the teratogenic effect (Organohalogen Compounds, 55, 421-423, 2003).
Marked difference in contamination levels of total mercury was found among tuna species.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Contamination by mercury and cadmium in the cetacean products (2004)
  • Author(s): Endo, et al.
  • Journal Title: Chemosphere 54 Pages: 1653-1662
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Contamination by mercury and selenium in the cetacean products from Japanses market. (2004)
  • Author(s): T.Endo, Haraguchi, K., Cipriano, F., Simmonds, M.P., Hotta, Y., Sakata, H.
  • Journal Title: Chemosphere 54 Pages: 1653-1662
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Journal Article] Renal toxicity in rats after oral administration of mercury (2003)
  • Author(s): Endo, et al.
  • Journal Title: Arch.Environ.Comtam.Toxicol. 44 Pages: 412-416
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Mercury contamination in the red meat of whales and dolphins (2003)
  • Author(s): Endo, et al.
  • Journal Title: Environ.Sci.Technoi. 37 Pages: 2681-2685
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Renal toxicity in rats after oral administration of mercury-contaminated boiled whale livers marketed for human consumption. (2003)
  • Author(s): Endo, T., Haraguchi, K., Sakata, M.
  • Journal Title: Arch.Environ.Contam.Toxicol. 44 Pages: 412-416
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Journal Article] Mercury and selenium concentrations in the internal organs of (2002)
  • Author(s): Endo, et al.
  • Journal Title: Sci.Total Environ. 3000 Pages: 15-22
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Human health significance of organochlorine and mercury (2002)
  • Author(s): Simmonds, M.P., Haraguchi, K., Endo, T., Cipriano, F., Palumbi, S.R., Troisi, G.M.
  • Journal Title: J.Toxicol.Environ.Health A 65 Pages: 1211-1235
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Mercury and selenium contamination in then internal organs of toothed whales and dolphins marketed for human consumption in Japan. (2002)
  • Author(s): Endo, T., Haraguchi, K., Sakata, M.
  • Journal Title: Sci.Total Environ. 300 Pages: 15-22
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Journal Article] Human health significance of organochiorine and mercury contaminations in Japanses whale meat (2002)
  • Author(s): Simmonds, M.P., Haraguchi, K., Endo, T., Cipriano, F., Palumbi, S.R., Troise, G.M.
  • Journal Title: J.Toxicol.Environ.Health A 65 Pages: 1211-1235
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Journal Article] Distribution and toxicity of mercury in rats after oral
  • Author(s): Endo, et al.
  • Journal Title: Chemosphere (In press)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Distribution and toxicity of mercury in rats after oral administration of mercury-contaminated whale red meat marketed for human consumption.
  • Author(s): T.Endo, Hotta, Y., Haraguchi, K., Sakata, H.
  • Journal Title: Chemosphere (in press)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より