Meta-Analysis of a New Georeferenced Database on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Western and Central Mediterranean Seafood

Abstract

The aim of this work was to collect and harmonize the results of several studies achieved over the years, in order to obtain a database of georeferenced observations on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Western and Central Mediterranean seafood. For each observation, some information on the taxonomy and the ecology of the sampled species are reported, as well as details on the investigated hydrocarbon, and spatial and temporal information on sampling. Moreover, two health risk indexes were calculated for each record and included in the database. Through several statistical methods, we conducted a meta-analysis of the data on some of the species in this database, identifying trends that could be related to the biology of the investigated organisms, as well as to the physico-chemical properties of each hydrocarbon and to the oceanographic characteristic of this part of the Mediterranean. The analysis of the data showed that, at a consumption rate like the one typical of the Italian population, seafood caught from the area considered in the present work seems to pose a minimal risk to health. However, we also found evidence of an increasing trend of PAH concentrations in Mediterranean mussels, pointing to the need for constant monitoring.

Environmental investigations in the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Naples) in relation to PAHs contamination

“…The analysis on seasonality shows that PAH concentrations tend to be higher in specimens sampled in cold months (October-March), and this trend is statistically significant as reported in other studies [De Giovanni et al, 2022;Esposito et al, 2017]. Literature studies suggest that contamination could be associated to the pyrolytic source of PAHs from the brownfield site of Bagnoli [Arienzo et al, 2017].…”

Assessment of environmental risk related to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the sediments along the eastern Adriatic coast

“…In the recent work of De Giovani et al a database on the concentrations of PAH in Mediterranean seafood was compiled based on the research results of several studies on the accumulation of PAH in different marine organisms. In the tissues of the studied organisms from the Adriatic Sea, the predominant PAH compound was phenanthrene, which can be attributed to the better solubility and bioavailability of low molecular weight PAH, as well as to the faster metabolism of the heavier PAH compounds (DE GIOVANNI et al, 2022). The calculation of two health risk indices (excess lifetime cancer risk and target hazard quotient) showed that PAH concentrations in the studied organisms posed minimal risk for environmental health.…”

“…Toxicity to aquatic organisms also depends on the structure of the specific PAH compound as well as the exact specie of the marine organism (ATSDR, 1990b;YUNKER et al, 2002;STOUT & GRAAN, 2010). It is generally observed that bivalves and other filter feeders accumulate greater amounts of low molecular weight PAH compared to heavier PAH as this fraction is more soluble in the seawater and thus more bioavailable for accumulation in marine organisms (DE GIOVANNI et al, 2022). In addition, PAH compounds with high molecular weight and 4 or more rings in their structure can be metabolised and excreted from the organism resulting in a low bioaccumulation rate.…”

Transport, Persistence, and Toxicity of Pollutants in the Sea

“…In a second paper, De Giovanni et al [6] collected and harmonized the results of several studies published over the years in order to obtain a database [7] of georeferenced observations on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Western and Central Mediterranean seafood. For each observation, some information on the taxonomy and the ecology of the sampled species was reported, as well as details on the investigated hydrocarbon, and spatial and temporal information on the sampling.…”