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Published on: January 8, 2016
Mercury speciation in seafood using isotope dilution analysis: a review
Stéphanie Clémens1, Mathilde Monperrus, Olivier F X Donard
1ANSES, Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail, Laboratoire de Sécurité des Aliments de Maisons-Alfort, 23, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France. stephanie.dafonseca@anses.fr
Mercury speciation analysis is crucial for understanding human health risks from fish consumption. Isotope dilution analysis effectively monitors and corrects mercury species transformations during sample preparation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Mercury is a toxic element, with methylmercury posing the greatest risk to human health, primarily through seafood consumption.
- Accurate mercury speciation analysis is challenging due to potential sample preparation artifacts, including loss and inter-conversion of mercury species.
- Ensuring analytical quality assurance and control is paramount for reliable mercury speciation data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss the application of isotope dilution analysis (IDA) for elemental speciation, specifically for mercury.
- To highlight the utility of IDA in monitoring and correcting analytical artifacts during sample preparation.
- To synthesize principal methods for mercury speciation in seafood using IDA.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of two modes of IDA: species-unspecific and species-specific isotope dilution analysis.
- Explanation of quantification techniques: classical and multiple spike isotope dilution analyses.
- Application of isotope tracers at various sample preparation stages to assess and correct inter-species transformations.
Main Results:
- Isotope dilution analysis provides significant added value for analytical quality assurance and control in mercury speciation.
- IDA enables the monitoring and correction of artefacts, such as mercury species loss or transformation, during sample preparation.
- The review synthesizes key IDA methods applicable to mercury speciation in seafood.
Conclusions:
- Isotope dilution analysis is an indispensable tool for accurate mercury speciation, particularly in complex matrices like seafood.
- The application of IDA, including its different modes and quantification techniques, is essential for reliable toxicological assessments.
- Accurate mercury speciation data obtained through IDA contributes to better risk assessment and management of mercury contamination in the food chain.
