Metagenomic analysis of the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) gut microbiome

No maximum limits (ML) for e.g. PCB or Hg in whale products exists in Europe, possibly due to the embargo on whale products by the EU in the beginning of the 80's. European and Norwegian ML for PCB6 in marine oils, which may be used as a proxy indicator ML for blubber, is 0.2 mg/kg fat, and the ML for Hg is 0.5 mg/kg wet weight for fillets of most fish. Norwegian whale is legally exported to other whale hunting nations like Japan, which have ML for both Hg and total PCB, which are 0.4 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively. Microbes are central players in geochemical cycles, including cycling of metals and other elements, which may affect seafood safety by e.g. by mercury methylation. Microbial analyses of intestinal microbiota may reveal the potential for transformation/methylation of mercury (Hg) to methyl mercury (MeHg).