Health risk of coplanar polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in edible fish from the Mediterranean Sea

• Published in: Journal of food protection 2003-11, Vol.66 (11), p.2176-2179
• Main Authors: Storelli, M.M, Giacominelli-Stuffler, R, D'Addabbo, R, Marcotrigiano, G.O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; chemical analysis; Consumer Product Safety; contaminants; Fish and seafood industries; Fishes - metabolism; food analysis; food contamination; Food Contamination - analysis; Food industries; food intake; Food toxicology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; health effects assessments; Humans; marine fish; Mediterranean Sea; Mediterranean sea muscles; Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry; pesticide residues; Pisces; pollutants; polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - administration & dosage; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - chemistry; Seafood - analysis; Species Specificity; toxic substances
• ISSN: 0362-028X; 1944-9097
• DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X-66.11.2176

The muscle tissue of different species of fish was analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in order to estimate the daily intake of these contaminants. Contamination levels among the different species varied between 108 and 678 ng/g lipid weight. Isomer-specific analysis in the muscle tissue of the various fish revealed a profile dominated by hexa- and pentachlorobiphenyls, followed by hepta- and tetrachlorobiphenyls. Other congeners, including those with fewer than four or more than nine chlorine atoms, were below the instrumental limit of detection in all samples. PCB dietary intake was below the range of 1 to 4 pg 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dioxin equivalents per kg body weight per day set by the World Health Organization. From a public health point of view, there is no indication of important risks associated with the consumption of these seafoods.