Mineral composition in mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and clam Tapes decussatus from Faro Lake of Messina: risk assessment for human health

Bivalve are exposed to a wide range of contaminants, some of which may be toxic to human health. The aim of this study was to detect essential and non-essential elements such as Na, Ca, Mg, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Be and Co in water, sediments, and <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> and <i>Tapes decussatus</i> from Faro Lake. It is a lake of marine origin located on the northern coast of Messina (Sicily), where shellfish farming has been practiced for many years. Metals were analysed by a single quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), except for Hg, which was quantified using a direct mercury analyser (DMA-80). The study evaluated the nutritional intake of elements through the ingestion of clams and mussels and the potential health risks to consumers. The lead levels found in <i>M. galloprovincialis</i> were below the LOQ, while in <i>T. decussatus</i> the concentrations were below the limit indicated by European Regulation 915/2023. Statistical analysis was carried out on <i>M. galloprovincialis</i> and <i>T. decussatus</i> samples using SPSS 27 and the data showed highly significant differences between the two species (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) concentrations were also below the legal limit in all samples analyzed. This study has shown that clams and mussels are a source of sodium (Na) with a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 36% in <i>M. galloprovincialis</i> and 77% in <i>T. decussatus</i>. The percentages obtained for calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were 17%-19% and 18%-8%, respectively. The RDA of chromium (Cr) was of 191% for <i>M. galloprovincialis</i> and of 405% for <i>T. decussatus.</i> The Fe percentages were 92% and 169% for <i>M. galloprovincialis</i> and <i>T. decussatus</i>, respectively. The concentrations of the other metals observed in the two bivalve species of Lake Faro were generally lower than the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) values estimated as a risk to human health.