CHAPTER 9
Toxicological Evaluation of Organochlorine Levels on some Fish
Specimens from Adriatic Sea
I. Corsi, S. Aurigi, and S. Focardi
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to assess the organochlorine levels and their toxic impact in some fish
specimens of commercial importance in terms of utilisation for human diet. Fish samples of
Merluccius merluccius, Sprattus sprattus, Sardina pilchardus, Scomber japonicus, Boops boops
and Mullus barbatus were collected in different sites along the Adriatic Sea during winter 1996
and 1997. Polychlorinated biphenyls including mono-, and di-ortho congeners,
dichlorodiphenyltrichloro-ethane (DDT) including its derivates and hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
were analysed to evaluate their bioaccumulation in the food chain. The 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents (TEQs) were assessed based on congener concentrations and toxic equivalency factors
(TEFs). The PCB, DDT and HCB levels detected were higher in Merluccius merluccius followed by
Sardina pilchardus and on the same lower range that of Boops boops, Mullus barbatus, Scomber
japonicus, Sprattus sprattus. In terms of toxicological evaluation, the TEQs approach calculated
for some PCB congeners, revealed the highest values for liver of Merluccius merluccius followed
by that of Sardina pilchardus muscle fillets
Introduction
Being 800 km in length and 200 km in width and
having unique oceanographical and environmental characteristics, the Adriatic Sea is one of
the main fishing areas of the Mediterranean.
Shallow waters, lagoons and deltas, varying salinity and temperatures as well as aspects linked to
human impact such as continental water inflow
are features that make the Adriatic basin suitable
for studying contamination and pollution
(Giordani et al. 1997). Moreover. the presence of
two circular streams between the North and the
Centre not only separate these two areas but also
accounts for the differences in the processes and
aspects that characterise this basin.
In the present study, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
were biomonitored in two different sites along
the Italian coast assuming that the concentrations of chemicals in biological samples are likely to reflect the present levels in the marine environment (Porte and Albaiges 1993).
Since dioxin-like compounds, such as the
organochlorines have been proved to bioaccumulate in fish, this finding encourages the development of research concerning the behaviour of
these chemicals in aquatic species (Hellou et al.
1993; Lech and Bend 1980).
This study is also focused on the comparison
of the levels of organochlorines between liver
and muscle tissues as the liver is rich in lipids
and bioaccumulates mostly lipophilic substances
and because humans assume muscle tissue as
food.
To determine target tissue and find which
species accumulate most contaminants, we took
concentrations detected for each class of contaminants. and compared them among the same
species from different sampling sites as well as
comparing those between the different species
fished in the North and the Central Adriatic.
Finally, to evaluate potential toxicological
risk for the aquatic organism itself and for their
predators including man, we applied the toxic
equivalents (TEQs) concept which has been
introduced to simplify risk assessment and reguDipartimento eli Scienze Ambientali, Universita eli Siena, Via delle Cerchia 3, 53100 Siena, Italy
P.M. Faranda, L. Guglielmo, G. Spezie (eds)
Mediterranean Ecosystems: Structures and Processes
@ Springer-Verlag ltalia 2001
Toxicological Evaluation of Organochlorine Levels on some Fish
Specimens from Adriatic Sea
I. Corsi, S. Aurigi, and S. Focardi
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to assess the organochlorine levels and their toxic impact in some fish
specimens of commercial importance in terms of utilisation for human diet. Fish samples of
Merluccius merluccius, Sprattus sprattus, Sardina pilchardus, Scomber japonicus, Boops boops
and Mullus barbatus were collected in different sites along the Adriatic Sea during winter 1996
and 1997. Polychlorinated biphenyls including mono-, and di-ortho congeners,
dichlorodiphenyltrichloro-ethane (DDT) including its derivates and hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
were analysed to evaluate their bioaccumulation in the food chain. The 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents (TEQs) were assessed based on congener concentrations and toxic equivalency factors
(TEFs). The PCB, DDT and HCB levels detected were higher in Merluccius merluccius followed by
Sardina pilchardus and on the same lower range that of Boops boops, Mullus barbatus, Scomber
japonicus, Sprattus sprattus. In terms of toxicological evaluation, the TEQs approach calculated
for some PCB congeners, revealed the highest values for liver of Merluccius merluccius followed
by that of Sardina pilchardus muscle fillets
Introduction
Being 800 km in length and 200 km in width and
having unique oceanographical and environmental characteristics, the Adriatic Sea is one of
the main fishing areas of the Mediterranean.
Shallow waters, lagoons and deltas, varying salinity and temperatures as well as aspects linked to
human impact such as continental water inflow
are features that make the Adriatic basin suitable
for studying contamination and pollution
(Giordani et al. 1997). Moreover. the presence of
two circular streams between the North and the
Centre not only separate these two areas but also
accounts for the differences in the processes and
aspects that characterise this basin.
In the present study, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
were biomonitored in two different sites along
the Italian coast assuming that the concentrations of chemicals in biological samples are likely to reflect the present levels in the marine environment (Porte and Albaiges 1993).
Since dioxin-like compounds, such as the
organochlorines have been proved to bioaccumulate in fish, this finding encourages the development of research concerning the behaviour of
these chemicals in aquatic species (Hellou et al.
1993; Lech and Bend 1980).
This study is also focused on the comparison
of the levels of organochlorines between liver
and muscle tissues as the liver is rich in lipids
and bioaccumulates mostly lipophilic substances
and because humans assume muscle tissue as
food.
To determine target tissue and find which
species accumulate most contaminants, we took
concentrations detected for each class of contaminants. and compared them among the same
species from different sampling sites as well as
comparing those between the different species
fished in the North and the Central Adriatic.
Finally, to evaluate potential toxicological
risk for the aquatic organism itself and for their
predators including man, we applied the toxic
equivalents (TEQs) concept which has been
introduced to simplify risk assessment and reguDipartimento eli Scienze Ambientali, Universita eli Siena, Via delle Cerchia 3, 53100 Siena, Italy
P.M. Faranda, L. Guglielmo, G. Spezie (eds)
Mediterranean Ecosystems: Structures and Processes
@ Springer-Verlag ltalia 2001