Persistent Organic Pollutants (PCBs and DDTs) in European Conger Eel, Conger conger L., from the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The present study provides novel data regarding levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (DDTs) in muscle tissue of European conger eel (Conger conger) from Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). The mean concentration of PCBs (891 ng g(-1) lipid weight) was higher than those of DDTs (543 ng g(-1) lipid weight). PCB pattern was dominated by higher chlorinated congeners (hexa-CBs: 69.3 %, penta-CBs: 17.2 %, hepta-CBs: 13.3 %). Regarding DDT pattern, p,p'-DDE was prevalent in all samples (85.5 %), suggesting no recent DDT input. The total 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxic equivalent (TEQs) of coplanar PCBs, including mono-and non-ortho congeners was 0.41 pg g(-1) wet weight (29.92 pg g(-1) lipid weight). The PCB and DDT levels, as well as TEQ concentrations were lower than most of the corresponding published data for fish from Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean regions, probably reflecting a moderately contaminated area.

Chlorinated compounds in the muscle tissue of fish from the Croatian Adriatic: preliminary data on contamination and the associated health risks / Klorirani spojevi u mišićnom tkivu riba iz istočnog Jadranskog mora: preliminarni podaci o zagađenosti i zdravstvenim rizicima

“…As to the group of ToxRel PCBs, the most frequent congener was hepta-chlorinated PCB-170 (found in 91 % of the samples), while the highest median was that of PCB-118. The dominance of PCB-153, PCB-138, and PCB-118 is in agreement with other reports on marine organisms from the Adriatic (9,25,28,29,31,35), reflecting their high lipophilicity, stability, and persistence, which favour accumulation in aquatic animals. The overall levels are consistent with those recently found in fish species from the Adriatic Sea (13,15,29) and Atlantic coastal regions (27), and are higher than the values for the Black Sea (32), Catalan coast (31), Tunis (26), and Orbetello Lagoon (33) ( Table 3).…”

“…The DDE/DDT ratios are often used as an indicator of recent DDT input into the environment. The prevalence of p,p'-DDE in this study (DDE/DDT>0.6 in more than 91 % of samples) is in line with the reports on DDT metabolites in fish species from other European and Mediterranean countries (24)(25)(26)(28)(29)(30)(31), and indicates that DDT in our study is mostly owed to historical use or remote sources and that it has not recently been used in agriculture. The obtained trend of the DDT isomers (DDE>DDT≈DDD) is consistent with the high chemical stability and long half-life of DDE in the aquatic environment in comparison to the parent DDT (25).…”

“…The obtained trend of the DDT isomers (DDE>DDT≈DDD) is consistent with the high chemical stability and long half-life of DDE in the aquatic environment in comparison to the parent DDT (25). The DDTs levels found in this study are similar to recent reports for different fish species from the Ionian Sea (29), Gulf of Naples (25), Marmara Sea (30), and Atlantic coastal regions (27) and are higher than those reported for other coastal areas of the Mediterranean (26,(31)(32)(33) (Table 3).…”

Occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and benzotriazole UV stabilizers in the hadal amphipod Hirondellea gigas

“…Due to their hydrophobic properties, POPs are easily incorporated into particulate organic matter (POM) where they are transported vertically from the surface water accumulating in the deep-sea environment. 1 As a result, POPs such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been ubiquitously detected in a range of deep-sea animals (PCBs 1–12,400 ng/g lipid weight and PBDEs 0.1–517 ng/g lipid weight) 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 and deep-sea sediments (PCBs <0.001–4 ng/g dry weight and PBDEs 0.05–0.3 ng/g dry weight). 11 , 13 , 14 , 15 Several studies have shown that the levels of POPs in the deep-sea environment can be higher than those recorded in shallow waters 16 and, as such, the deep sea is considered to be a potential sink for these persistent contaminants.…”

Looking for the Cosmopolitical Fish: Monitoring Marine Pollution with Anglers and Congers in the Gulf of Fos, Southern France

“…They count the stocks or the structure of populations or describe its lifecycle in relation to its diet or genetic characteristics. Only one article authored by an Italian team from Bari University focuses on its possible contribution to ecotoxicology (see Storelli et al 2012 for DDT and PCBs). The other publications, while not focused on this species in particular, raise the question of its utility in assessing, along with others, the extent of chemical pollution (see Chahid et al 2014 for cadmium and lead off the coast of Morocco; Alcaro et al 2012 or Della Torre et al 2010 for chemical weapon residue in the Adriatic).…”