Food risk characterization from exposure to persistent organic pollutants and metals contaminating eels from an Italian lake. Issue 5 (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiesa, Luca Maria; Zanardi, Emanuela; Nobile, Maria; Panseri, Sara; Ferretti, Enrica; Ghidini, Sergio; Foschini, Stefano; Ianieri, Adriana; Arioli, Francesco
• Is Part Of: Food additives & contaminants. Volume 36:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 779
• Page End: 788
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: eel -- PCDD/F -- PCB -- PBDE -- PAH -- metals -- risk assessment -- food safety; Food additives -- Periodicals; Food contamination -- Periodicals; 664.06
• DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2019.1591642
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1944-0049

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Monitoring environmental contaminants in edible animal species is important for the assessment of environmental quality and for food safety as well. In this study, the occurrence of 2, 3, 7, 8 dioxins, and furans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, six non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl indicators (ndl-PCBs), seven polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and four metals (As, Hg, Ni, Pb) was evaluated in 90 European eels ( Anguilla anguilla ) from Lake Garda. The results on eel samples showed a frequent contamination of dl-PCBs, found at concentrations higher than the maximum limit (ML) provided by European Union in 41 % of the eels. Two PBDE congeners (BDE 47 and BDE 99) were detected in almost all the samples. The contamination by PAHs was found negligible; only one sample had a high concentration of benzo[a]pyrene. Concerning metals, Pb showed concentrations higher than the maximum level (ML) in 77% of the samples, while Ni content could be a cause of acute toxicity due to dermatitis. Extreme consumers (95th percentile) are subjected to an actual risk attributable to dioxins, furans, and mainly dl-PCBs and PBDEs. The contamination of Lake Garda eels is therefore a matter of concern and a constant monitoring of the pollution levels of its freshwater is mandatory.