| Abstract: | Toxic and essential elements in 11 different sea cucumber species were determined and compared with daily intake recommendations and maximum allowed levels. The contents of macro-elements contents in dried sea cucumber samples were found to be 25,000–152,000?mg?kg–1 for Na, 4000–8600?mg?kg?1 for Mg, 1100–5200?mg?kg?1 for K, 15,000–68,000?mg?kg?1 and 36,300–251,000?mg?kg?1 for Cl. Trace element concentrations in dried sea cucumber samples were found to be 11–100?mg?kg?1 for Zn, 41–660?mg?kg?1 for Fe, 3–74?mg?kg?1 for Cu, 1.1–16?mg?kg?1 for Mn, 1.4–3.7?mg?kg?1 for Se, 1.1–9.6?mg?kg?1 for Cr, and 0.3–5.1?mg?kg?1 for Ni. All sea cucumber species were rich sources of Na, Cl, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Se and Cr for human consumption. Regarding contaminants, As, Cd and Pb concentrations in dried sea cucumbers were in the ranges of 1.1–6.1, 0.03–0.06 and 0.11–0.69?mg?kg?1, respectively. Moreover, Hg values of 11 sea cucumbers were below the detection limit (0.01?mg?kg?1). |
