Safety of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) as food source: its initial fluoride toxicity study

Abstract Antarctic Krill, rich in many nutrients, is supposed to be one of the strategic food sources. However, it is not acceptable for direct consumption as traditional food, as its high content of fluoride is harmful to adults and children. Therefore, the safety of fluoride residue in Antarctic krill for food production should be investigated. In this research, the fluoride toxicity in Antarctic Krill was evaluated through mice feeding experiment. Their body weight was found not to be influenced by fluoride. However, dental fluorosis was observed in the krill group and the NaF group. Fluoride content in liver, kidney, urine, and bones are significantly different (P<0.05) among these three groups, which amount to plateau during the first ten days of feeding, except the fluoride in bone which keeps increasing all through the experimental time. Furthermore, less amount of fluoride was determined in the krill group compared with the amount in NaF group, even if they have the same concentration of fluoride. Besides, lesions in livers, kidneys and bones of the two experimental groups were observed through histopathological studies.

摘要：南极磷虾（Antarctic Krill）富含多种营养物质，被认为是极具战略价值的食物来源之一。但由于其氟化物含量过高，会对成人及儿童造成健康危害，无法作为传统食品直接食用。因此，需针对南极磷虾用于食品生产时的氟化物残留安全性开展研究。本研究通过小鼠饲喂实验，评估了南极磷虾中的氟化物毒性。实验结果显示，氟化物未对小鼠体重产生显著影响，但磷虾组与氟化钠（NaF）组小鼠均出现了氟斑牙症状。三组小鼠肝脏、肾脏、尿液及骨骼中的氟化物含量均存在显著差异（P<0.05）；除骨骼氟化物含量在整个实验周期内持续升高外，其余样本的氟化物含量均在饲喂初期的10天内达到平台期。此外，即便氟化物添加浓度一致，磷虾组小鼠体内的氟化物蓄积量仍低于氟化钠组。同时，通过组织病理学检测发现，两个实验组小鼠的肝脏、肾脏及骨骼均出现了病理性损伤。