PCBs and PCDD/FS in fish and fish products and their impact on the human body burden in Belgium

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2007 May;52(4):563-71. doi: 10.1007/s00244-005-0266-6. Epub 2007 Mar 29.

Abstract

The concentrations of marker PCBs (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) in fish have been assessed with GC-MS: an average concentration of 540 ng-PCB g(-1) fat (5.02 ng-PCB g(-1) wet weight) was observed. The average concentration of PCDD/Fs, assessed with the CALUX bioassay, amounted to 64 pg-CALUX-TEQ g(-1) fat (0.58 pg-CALUX-TEQ g(-1) wet weight) and that of PCDD/Fs + dioxin-like PCBs amounted to 131 pg-CALUX-TEQ g(-1) fat (1.18 pg-CALUX-TEQ g(-1) wet weight). Results of the PCB congeners analyses show that PCB-153 is the most abundant congener in almost all samples, with also main contributions of the 138- and 180-congeners. For some species such as the sand sole and lemon sole, a fairly constant PCB content, independent of the fat percentage, was observed. For a second group of species such as whelks, cod, and whiting, a positive correlation was observed between their PCB concentration (ng g(-1) fat) and their % of fat. The relationship between marker PCBs and PCDD/Fs concentrations, when plotted on a log scale, fits a straight line (correlation coefficient r = 0.83). With our results on fish and literature data for other food products, intake of marker PCBs and PCDD/Fs could be calculated for the adult population in Belgium (19-60 years old). The Total Daily Intake (TDI) of marker PCBs (ng-PCB day(-1)) ranges between 1690 and 2210. The TDI of PCDD/Fs (pg-CALUX day(-1)) ranges between 80.5 and 122, that of PCDD/Fs + dioxin-like PCBs amounts to 151. When PCDD/Fs in fish are assessed with GC-HRMS, the TDI can be lower. The relative importance of fish regarding marker PCB intake amounts to 15-19%, while regarding PCDD/Fs intake it amounts to 34-51%. Using TDI, the body burden evolution of marker PCBs and PCDD/Fs, with age has been calculated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Belgium
  • Benzofurans / analysis*
  • Benzofurans / metabolism
  • Body Burden
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Eels
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Fish Products / analysis
  • Fishes
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Gastropoda
  • Humans
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / metabolism
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analysis
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / metabolism
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sharks
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls