Arsenolipids in fish oil, fish feed, fish and other seafood

Arsenic exists in many different chemical forms in the marine environment, of which the water-soluble arsenicals are well studied. The toxicity of arsenic compounds depends on their chemical form, with inorganic arsenic being the most toxic. Knowledge reg arding arsenolipids (lipid soluble arsenic compounds) is limited. Although arsenolipids are present in considerable quantities in fish oil (reported concentrations range from 4 to 15 mg As/kg) and other marine samples, the structures of these compounds ar e essentially unknown. The revised project aims to generate knowledge on arsenolipids in fish oil and other marine samples, with a main aim of developing methods for the determination of arsenolipids in marine samples using capillary HPCL-ICPMS and capil lary HPLC-ESI MS/MS. In addition, some of the major arsenolipids in fish oil will be characterised and the occurrence of arsenolipids in marine products will be documented in a preliminary study. The revised project will generate knowledge on arsenolipids as a potential risk factor in the food value chain; Industrial fish -> Fish oil -> Fish feed -> Cultured fish -> Consumer. The results obtained within the project will be of importance to national and international food authorities in their evaluation an d risk assessment of the consequences of arsenolipids for food safety and fish welfare. Furthermore, the results will also be of value for the aquaculture industry and the fishery sector.