Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract only checked I-FSH-15 standard review
Toxic metals in North African seafood (meta-analysis)
Toxic trace elements in fish and seafood from North African coasts: A systematic review and meta-analysis of contamination levels and health risk assessment.
Overview
Nahal A & Mehouel F. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2026 · PMID 42250752 · DOI 10.1016/j.yrtph.2026.106156
Mercury and cadmium in seafood signalled potential concern in Egypt and Tunisia.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Pool data.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
45 studies.
- What was actually found?
Hg/Cd concern.
- How large was the observed effect?
Hg 0.29 mg/kg pooled.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Monitor seafood.
- What are the study's limitations?
Heterogeneous.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts 'sea fish is cleanest'.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Low.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Nahal A & Mehouel F
- Journal
- Regul Toxicol Pharmacol
- Year
- 2026
- Identifier
- PMID 42250752 DOI 10.1016/j.yrtph.2026.106156
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Declaration of competing interest The author is an Editorial Board Member/Editor-in-Chief/Associate Editor/Guest Editor for this journaland was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.
2. Research question
Pooled levels of Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, As in North African seafood and risk
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Systematic review and meta-analysis of toxic trace elements in North African seafood
- Population
Fish and seafood
- Country
North Africa (incl. Egypt)
- Period
1986-2025
- Sample size
45 studies
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Edible muscle data
4. Methods and endpoints
- Endpoints
Pooled concentrations; THQ
- Statistical methods
Random effects (R meta)
5. Actual results
- Results
Pooled mg/kg ww: As 3.81, Cr 1.54, Pb 1.06, Hg 0.29, Cd 0.24; THQ for Cd and Hg indicated potential concern in Egypt and Tunisia.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Targeted monitoring needed.
6. Strengths
- Systematic
7. Weaknesses
- Heterogeneous studies
- Mixed farmed/wild
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
10. Relevance to the specific claim
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Low.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Regional signal for Hg in seafood.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | unknown |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | mixed |
| Regional transferability | low |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |