Total mercury contents in shark species - anjo, cação-azul, cambeva, caçoa, machote and anequim - commercialized in São Paulo-SP, Brazil. Were determined. The levels ranged from 0.04 to 4.71 mg Hg/kg being 54% above the Brazilian acceptable legal limit of 1 mg Hg/kg (predator fishes) for consumption purposes. The results show that sharks have been commercialized in disagreement with the legislation exposing consumers to a high risk of mercury toxicity. Considerations were made in relation to the observed high levels of mercury and to the corresponding consumption based upon the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake to a total mercury of 0.3 mg Hg/person, of which no more than 0.2 mg should be present as methylmercury (FAO/WHO). Considerations were also made regarding the need of inspection and monitoring of the shark species locally used as food.
fish; shark; mercury
