Tuna (the te reo M膩ori word for eels) are not only historically important to M膩ori, they are their taonga today.
A University of mini传媒 toxicology study听听has concluded that 鈥淧FOS residues in eels are likely to be of no concern from a carcinogenicity perspective,鈥 which will likely ease fears around the traditional M膩ori food.
Fished out of waterways around Aotearoa New Zealand and prepared in traditional dishes, freshwater eel (tuna) has long been a valued food source for M膩ori people. However, concerns about the safety of consuming eel have been stirred by recent media reports surrounding the high levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in the Oaonui Stream in Taranaki. The PFOS derived from firefighting foam used by a nearby fire training facility.
University of mini传媒 Toxicology Professor听Ian Shaw听of the College of Science | Te R膩ngai P奴taiao, and UC Master of Science student Te-Rina King-Hudson wanted to set the record straight.
鈥淭o look at the risk of eating PFOS-contaminated eel, we needed to know how much eel M膩ori eat. We spoke to wh膩nau and found that the total amount is about one kilogram of eel per year per person,鈥 says Professor Shaw.
鈥淲e spoke with wh膩nau of Muriwai marae in 艑pape and Punawhakareia marae in Rotoiti and they indicated eel was only consumed a couple of times a year, when eels are traditionally caught and eaten.鈥
Professor Shaw and Ms King-Hudson built a worse-case exposure scenario by using the highest PFOS level found in eels and compared this with exposure levels in rat carcinogenicity studies. This approached allowed the team to assess the worst-case cancer risk.
鈥淭hese very low PFOS intakes suggest that the cancer risk to M膩ori consuming one kilogram of eel is negligible,鈥 Professor Shaw says.
According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), 鈥渁 tolerable daily intake (TDI) for PFOS of 20 ng/kg body weight/day based on decreased parental and offspring weight in rat reproductive toxicity studies.鈥
Professor Shaw believes these estimates to be very conservative and says they were probably set as an interim measure to protect human health.
鈥淚t would be ideal if there were no PFOS residues in eels; however, we want to be sure the public is receiving accurate information about the听 risk associated with consuming small amounts of eel with residues,鈥 explains Professor Shaw.
PFOS is a key ingredient in many fabric protectors and stain repellents. There is significant debate in the scientific community about whether or not PFOS is carcinogenic.
Margaret Agnew, Senior External Relations Advisor, University of mini传媒
笔丑辞苍别:听+64 3 369 3631听| Mobile:听+64 27 254 3949听触听margaret.agnew@canterbury.ac.nz
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