Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in edible fish species from different fishing zones of Croatian Adriatic

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2018-12, Vol.137, p.71-80
• Main Authors: Vuković, Gordana, Herceg Romanić, Snježana, Babić, Željka, Mustać, Bosiljka, Štrbac, Mirna, Deljanin, Isidora, Antanasijević, Davor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced classification methods; Animals; Clustering; Coastal environments; Contaminants; Croatia; DDT; DDT - analysis; DDT - metabolism; Decision analysis; Decision trees; Environmental Monitoring; Fish; Fishes - classification; Fishes - growth & development; Fishes - metabolism; Fishing; Fishing zones; Food fish; Hexachlorocyclohexane; Hexachlorocyclohexane - analysis; Hexachlorocyclohexane - metabolism; Mackerel; Marine fish; Marine fishes; Marine pollution; Organochlorine pesticides; Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs); PCB; PCB compounds; Persistent organic pollutants; Pollutants; Pollution abatement; Pollution control; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - metabolism; Sardines; Seafood; Seafood - analysis; Self organizing maps; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Uptake; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.014

High-risk contaminants, OCPs and PCBs, were investigated in marine fish from the Adriatic Sea, from which retail fish in Croatia is commonly sourced. The pollutant levels in sardine, horse and chub mackerel, anchovy and round sardinella were analysed based on a two-year sampling and the joint use of generally accepted statistics and advanced clustering methods − self-organizing maps (SOM) and decision tree analysis (DT). Both the SOM and DT suggested fish mass and length rather than fat along with α-HCH, p,p′-DDT, PCB-74 and PCB-189 to cause variable pollutant uptake among species. Main distinctions of sardines occur in coastal and off coast regions rather than in a particular fishing zone and they are associated with both fish characteristics, levels of γ-HCH and PCBs: −60, −105, −150, −170, and −189. The results, mutually compatible or in agreement, could be useful for the design and implementation of the abatement strategies of fish pollution. •OCPs and PCBs were determined in sardines, horse and chub mackerel, and anchovy.•Advanced clustering (SOM and DT) was applied for the POP analyses in edible fishes.•Fish mass and length rather than fat cause changeable uptake of POPs among species.•Off coast and coastal sardines differ due to the PCB-60, −105, −150, −170, and −189 levels.