State of the art
Fish and seafood are central components of the Mediterranean diet, offering significant health benefits due to their high content of omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, vitamins, and essential minerals such as selenium (Se). However, they are also a primary source of human exposure to mercury (Hg), particularly in its toxic organic form, methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg is one of the top ten toxic chemicals identified by the World Health Organization to be a major public health concern.
Se plays a crucial protective role by interacting with Hg in unique ways in the human body, influencing each other’s health effects. Thus, maintaining a proper Se-to-Hg ratio from fish and seafood consumption is crucial for health, as Se in adequate amounts can compensate for Hg toxicity.
Current consumer guidelines often focus on mercury risks without adequately considering selenium benefits, which may lead to unnecessary restriction of seafood consumption and reduced intake of essential nutrients. The SeaSeMe project will develop an innovative, user-friendly digital platform and mobile application that will offer users personalized risk-benefit information on their fish and seafood intake of Hg and Se through several fish and seafood species in Greece, according to their group profile.
Aims
The SeaSeMe project aims to develop an effective approach for communicating scientific knowledge on the health benefits and risks of fish and seafood consumption, with a focus on mercury (Hg) toxicity and the protective role of selenium (Se). The platform will integrate scientific data on Hg and Se concentrations, along with European Union (EU) and European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) safety thresholds, to inform users whether their mercury intake exceeds tolerable limits and whether selenium intake is sufficient to mitigate mercury toxicity. Users will calculate their intake by entering the species of seafood, consumption frequency, and meal size.
The project also will engage communities through collaborations with schools, universities, educators, and media outlets to raise awareness and promote informed seafood choices. To the best of our knowledge, SeaSeMe will be the first digital tool focused on fish and seafood species in Greece that explicitly incorporates selenium’s protective role against mercury toxicity, offering the public a free, evidence-based resource for safer dietary decision-making.
Supporting facilities and infrastructures
Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the SeaSeMe project (analytical, environmental and food chemistry, and community engagement, dissemination), its implementation relies on the joint expertise of the Institute of Oceanography of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (IO-HCMR), the Chemistry Department of the University of Crete (CHEM-UoC), the School of Social Sciences of the University of Crete (SOC-UoC), the Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics Department of the International Hellenic University (NUTR-IHU) and the 1st Laboratory Center of Science Education of the Secondary Education of Heraklion (LCSE).
The IO-HCMR provides extensive experience in marine research and oceanographic chemistry, supporting field sampling campaigns and environmental sample analysis. The IO-HCMR will be the leader of the project and responsible for fulfilling the technical, scientific, financial, administrative, and reporting obligations required and supervising its successful implementation. IO-HCMR has expertise in Hg and Se bioaccumulation in marine organisms and in human risk and benefit assessment through the consumption of fish and seafood. The CHEM-UoC have long experience in the development of state-of-the-art analytical techniques that allow for the advanced study of metal species’ chemistry and biochemistry as it relates to environmental and biological systems. The NUTR-IHU has a strong background in the study of metal bioaccumulation and human risk evaluation through the consumption of freshwater fish species. The SOC-UoC brings extensive expertise in web development and application design, particularly in the academic sector. With over 15 years of experience in web design, it has a proven track record of creating user-friendly, visually appealing websites powered primarily by the open-source CMS WordPress. Its participation in numerous research projects has enhanced their ability to build platforms tailored to the unique needs of academic institutions and researchers, transforming complex requirements into functional, scalable, and aesthetically engaging solutions. The LCSE has extensive experience supporting education in schools, training educators in laboratory techniques, and integrating innovative technologies into classrooms. Their responsibilities include selecting schools interested in the proposed platform and application and organizing visits to these schools with members of the scientific team. All entities have experience in training activities for community engagement.
Funding
The project “Seafood Toxicity Platform: Knowing your Mercury – Selenium Intake. Are you safe? SeaSeMe” is implemented in the framework of H.F.R.I.’s 6th Call of “Science and Society” Action entitled “Current Nutritional Awareness” (H.F.R.I. Project Number: 29377). The project will receive a total budget of 99,990 € for 2 years (2025-2027).
