Abstract
This study investigates the inorganic elements and the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulated in liver of a sexually mature Hexanchus griseus living in the Mediterranean Sea. The casual finding of a specimen in the Strait of Messina (April 2018) allowed us to carefully analyse its liver which can be considered a very important biological indicator. The determination of inorganic elements was carried out by ICP-MS technique. Quantitative determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and poly-chloro-biphenyl compounds (PCB), distinguished in dioxine-like (DL) and not-dioxine-like (NDL) derivates, has been carried out by HRGC/MS and HRGC-MS/MS respectively. Worrying levels of PCB-DL (TEQ = Σ(PCB-DL)*TEF = 5.96 ng g−1), PCB-NDL (Σ(PCB-NDL) = 1390.4 ng g−1) together with the presence of pesticides and plasticizers were found in the shark liver oil. The levels of heavy metals were below the legal limits.
![](/cms/asset/885a0d5b-6567-44c3-ae4e-a968e2ed21ff/gnpl_a_1601197_uf0001_c.jpg)
Disclosure statement
The authors declare no conflict of interests.