title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in three pelagic fish species from Atlantic Ocean: inter-specific and inter-season comparisons and assessment of potential public health risks.
abstract: The concentrations of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in three commercially valuable fish species (sardine, Sardina pilchardus; chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus; and horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus) from the Atlantic Ocean. Specimens were collected seasonally during 2007-2009. Only low molecular weight PAHs were detected, namely, naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene and phenanthrene. Chub mackerel (1.80-19.90μg/kgww) revealed to be significantly more contaminated than horse mackerel (2.73-10.0μg/kgww) and sardine (2.29-14.18μg/kgww). Inter-specific and inter-season comparisons of PAHs bioaccumulation were statistically assessed. The more relevant statistical correlations were observed between PAH amounts and total fat content (significant positive relationships, p⩽0.05), and season (sardine displayed higher amounts in autumn-winter while the mackerel species showed globally the inverse behavior). The health risks by consumption of these species were assessed and shown to present no threat to public health concerning PAH intakes.
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramalhosa
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paíga
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delerue-Matos
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz Prior Pinto
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005506:Food Contamination; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical