The available utilization of selenium from some inedible tissues of marine products-I

The selenium distribution in the scales or skin as one of the inedible tissues of several species of fish (Yellow tail Seriora quinqueradiata, Red sea bream Pagrus major and Puffer Takihugu rubripes) was investigated in order to clarify the possibility of the utilization of selenium from those discarded tissues, in relation with the mercury distribution involving tissue. Both distributions were compared with those of the ordinary muscle. As a result, each selenium level in the scales or skin was about the same or somewhat higher than that involving muscle between those cultured and wild species of subjected fish in the present study. On the other hand, the mercury level was extremely low or nearly zero and Se/Hg (the molar ratio of selenium to mercury) was drastically high compared with that involving muscle, suggesting that the scales or skin will be usually inedible but significantly safe tissue which few heavy metals such as mercury will tend to accumulate. These findings suggested that the available utilization of selenium may be expected from the scales or skin of fish, including the improvement of environment.