As, Cd, Cr, Pb and Hg in seafood species used for sashimi and evaluation of dietary exposure

•Inorganic contaminants As, Cd, Cr, Pb and Hg were evaluated in sashimi samples.•High levels of arsenic were determined in tuna and octopus sashimi samples.•High levels of mercury were found in tuna sashimi samples.•Octopus was the sashimi that most contributed to arsenic intake.

The presence of inorganic contaminants As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb was evaluated in 116 samples of muscles of seafood used for sashimi from Japanese restaurants in Campinas, SP, Brazil. Tuna (Thunnus thynnus), salmon (Salmo salar), mullet (Mugil platanus) and octopus (Octopus vulgaris) were the most common seafood species in these restaurants. Samples were digested in a microwave assisted system and the contaminants were determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES). The percentage of samples above the maximum limit permitted by MERCOSUL and European regulations were: As (90% tuna, 48% salmon, 31% mullet and 100% octopus); Cd (61% octopus); Hg (7% tuna); Pb (6% mullet). Octopus and tuna were the sashimi that most contributed to arsenic and mercury intake, respectively.