Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs): Occurrence in fishery products and dietary intake

Concentrations and congener specific profiles of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs were determined in various edible fish from the Adriatic Sea. PCBs were the dominant chemicals (116–1980 ng g−1 lipid wt), followed by PCDFs (ND-58.3 pg g−1 lipid wt) and PCDDs (ND-20 pg g−1 lipid wt). The levels of these contaminants varied among species. Benthic organisms possessed the highest concentrations, followed by demersal and pelagic fish species. PCB and PCDD/F accumulation pattern in the samples analysed showed a distribution typically reported for marine samples. The mean weekly intake of toxic equivalency (TEQ) was estimated to be 0.84 pg TEQs/kg bw/week. The dioxin-like PCBs accounted for more than 77% of this intake, followed by PCDDs (15.5%) and PCDFs (13.1%). In general, the samples analysed in this survey can be considered safe with regard to the levels obtained and the in-force legislation, nevertheless the consumption of some species may be of significance importance for consumer health.

Research highlights
► This study describes the content of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in different seafood.
► This study shows the congener-specific analysis of PCBs and PCDD/Fs.
► The results are discussed in the light of maximum levels permitted by European Union.
► Contaminant levels do not show evidence of risk for consumers, except for consumption of some species.