Dioxin-like, non-dioxin like PCB and PCDD/F contamination in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from the Loire estuarine continuum: Spatial and biological variabilities

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 472; pp. 562 - 571
• Main Authors: Blanchet-Letrouvé, I., Zalouk-Vergnoux, A., Vénisseau, A., Couderc, M., Le Bizec, B., Elie, P., Herrenknecht, C., Mouneyrac, C., Poirier, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-02-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Anguilla - metabolism; Anguilla anguilla; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Benzofurans - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; Dioxins; Dioxins - analysis; Dioxins - metabolism; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Sciences; European eel contamination; Fish and seafood industries; Food industries; Food toxicology; France; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life stage; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - metabolism; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analysis; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Rhône Alpes; Loire; France; Europe; ANE, France, Pays de Loire, Loire Estuary; France, Auvergne, Loire R; Life stage; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Dioxins; European eel contamination; Biometrics; Brackish water environment; Spatial variability; Dioxin derivatives; Anguilla anguilla; Estuaries; Spatial variation; Organic halogen compounds; Persistent organic pollutant; Pisces; Chlorine Organic compounds; Chlorocarbon; Aromatic compound; Developmental stage; Public health; Polychlorobiphenyls; Contamination; Vertebrata; Halogenated hydrocarbon; Food intake; Toxic equivalency factor; Chemometrics; Principal component analysis; ANALYSE DE CYCLE DE VIE; ESTUAIRE; ANGUILLA ANGUILLA; PCB; CONTAMINATION CHIMIQUE
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.037

To characterize the eel contamination by dioxin-like (dl) and non dioxin-like (ndl) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), sixty-two eels from the Loire estuary (France) were analyzed. PCB contamination significantly increased from glass eel stage (3.71±1.85 and 15.2±4.2ngg−1 dw) to other life stages (for yellow eels: 62.8±34.4 and 382±182ngg−1 dw; for silver eels: 93.7±56.3 and 463±245ngg−1 dw respectively for dl and ndl−PCBs). An inter-site variability based on PCB levels and profiles was observed among the three studied sites. For glass eels, the profile was mainly characterized by less chlorinated PCBs contrary to the other eels, displaying a different bioaccumulation pathway. Overall, the contamination level in the eels from this estuary was shown to be low for PCDD/Fs and intermediate for dl and ndl-PCBs, compared to other international/national areas. However, more than 60% of the studied silver eels displayed higher values for PCDD/F and dl-PCB WHO2005 TEQ than the EU permissible level of 10pgg−1 ww. This statement suggests a potential exposure to PCBs through eel consumption, especially with silver eels, and also points out apparent contamination that could eventually affect the reproductive success of the species.
•PCBs and PCDD/Fs in eels from a moderately polluted estuary (France) were determined.•Variability according to the site and life stage was observed.•PCB pattern of glass eels underlined a different bioaccumulation pathway.•Overall, eels from this estuary showed an intermediate contamination level.•More than 60% of silver eels displayed values higher than the EU permissible level.