Underestimation of chemical contamination in marine fish muscle tissue can be reduced by considering variable wet:dry weight ratios

Type Article
Date 2017-10
Language English
Author(s) Cresson PierreORCID1, Travers-Trolet MorganeORCID1, Rouquette Manuel1, Timmerman Charles-AndreORCID1, Giraldo CarolinaORCID1, Lefebvre Sebastien1, 2, Ernande BrunoORCID1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, HMMN, Ctr Manche Mer Nord, BP 669, F-62321 Boulogne Sur Mer, France.
2 : Univ Littoral Cote dOpale, Univ Lille, CNRS, UMR 8187,LOG, 28 Ave Foch, F-62930 Wimereux, France.
Source Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2017-10 , Vol. 123 , N. 1-2 , P. 279-285
DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.046
WOS© Times Cited 45
Keyword(s) Wet:dry ratio, Conversion factor, Contaminant concentration, Marine fish, Percentage of humidity
Abstract

Whether considered as a risk for human health or as ecological tracers, contaminants' concentrations measured in fish muscles are commonly expressed relative to wet or dry mass. Comparison of results required conversion factors (CF) but accurate values are scarce and case-specific. The present paper is aimed at investigating errors linked with the use of the theoretical value. Muscles dry and wet masses were measured in 15 fish species to determine the actual CF. Most CF were lower than the theoretical wet:dry ratio of 5 classically used, with variations at individual and species level. Muscle lipid content (inferred by C/N ratios) was a crucial factor explaining discrepancies, claiming for caution when working with lipid-rich species. The observed variability demonstrated that using the theoretical CF may be inaccurate, when actual CF largely differs from the theoretical value. Dedicated measurement is the better approach when accuracy is required.

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Cresson Pierre, Travers-Trolet Morgane, Rouquette Manuel, Timmerman Charles-Andre, Giraldo Carolina, Lefebvre Sebastien, Ernande Bruno (2017). Underestimation of chemical contamination in marine fish muscle tissue can be reduced by considering variable wet:dry weight ratios. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 123(1-2), 279-285. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.046 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00396/50736/