Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in fish and shellfish from the Adriatic Sea

Abstract

Levels of 18 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in some marine species, living both in the coastal area and in deeper seawater. In some species analysis was performed separately in edible parts (fillets) and in viscera. The existence and degree of bioaccumulation was assessed studying individual species of very different size, with the smaller being younger. Furthermore, with a multivariate statistical analysis, a correlation between PCB congeners and the feeding habits and habitat of the fish was demonstrated. The results show that fat from edible parts (fish fillets) had total PCB levels in the range 22.6–601.9 µg kg⁻¹ (with 601.9 µg kg⁻¹ in anchovies), while fat from viscera showed much higher concentrations (407.3–916.6 µg kg⁻¹). Bioaccumulation was confirmed, comparing PCB levels between younger and older individual hake, squid, and horned octopus. The total PCB concentration ratio (older/younger individuals) ranges from 2.11 (squid = 292.1/137.8 µg kg⁻¹) to 3.46 (hake = 546.0/158.0 µg kg⁻¹).

Keywords:

• polychlorinated biphenyls
• Adriatic Sea
• fish pollution
• bioaccumulation
• gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• multivariate analysis

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Regione Marche (CIPE 2003). The authors thank Mr Alberto Biondi (Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy), for technical assistance.