Occurrence and Characterization of Residues and Contaminants in Shrimp and Fish Samples from Aquaculture and Wild Capture in Brazil

Mery Ellen da Rocha Oliveira

Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Felyphe Feliciano Silva

Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Úrsula Nunes Rauecker

Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Nástia Rosa Almeida Coelho

Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Mariana Moreira Lopes

Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Delma Machado Cantisane Pádua

Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Ana Maria de Souza Almeida

School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Eduardo de Paula Nascente *

Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

The consumption of fish is a regular dietary habit among Brazilians, as it represents a significant protein source for the population. However, the emerging presence of residues and contaminants in fish meat has proven to be a substantial public health risk, contributing to cases of human intoxication and resulting in irreversible damage, including gastrointestinal, neurological, and endocrine disorders. This study aimed to conduct a retrospective analysis based on data retrieved from reports published on the official website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) over the past 14 years. The objective was to evaluate the occurrence and characterization of contaminants in shrimp and fish from aquaculture and wild capture in Brazil. The analyzed documents comprised results from the National Residues and Contaminants Plan (PNCRC/Animal) between 2010 and 2023. Residues were monitored according to criteria such as toxicity levels and population exposure potential. Over the 13 years of monitoring under the PNCRC, more than 12,000 samples were analyzed. Non-compliance was identified in 189 samples, distributed among the following classes of substances: inorganic contaminants, antibiotics, dyes, and insecticides. The class of inorganic contaminants accounted for the highest percentage of violations among non-compliant samples, representing approximately 90% of the cases. These findings underscore the importance of the PNCRC/Animal in ensuring the availability of safe food for the Brazilian population while mitigating the harmful impacts on human health.

Keywords: Aquaculture, contaminants, fish, foods, shrimp


How to Cite

Oliveira, Mery Ellen da Rocha, Felyphe Feliciano Silva, Úrsula Nunes Rauecker, Nástia Rosa Almeida Coelho, Mariana Moreira Lopes, Delma Machado Cantisane Pádua, Ana Maria de Souza Almeida, and Eduardo de Paula Nascente. 2025. “Occurrence and Characterization of Residues and Contaminants in Shrimp and Fish Samples from Aquaculture and Wild Capture in Brazil”. Advances in Research 26 (1):193-203. https://doi.org/10.9734/air/2025/v26i11246.