PCB contamination in fish community from the Gironde Estuary (France): blast from the past.
The contamination of the Gironde Estuary, southwest of France, by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was assessed using six fish of high ecological and economic importance as bioindicator species. The concentrations of 21 PCB congeners and total fat contents were determined in the muscle and liver of eels (Anguilla anguilla), seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), flounders (Platichthys flesus), meagres (Argyrosomus regius), mullets (Liza ramada), and soles (Solea vulgaris). In addition, information regarding the trophic ecology of the studied fish was obtained through the analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (i.e., δ(13)C and δ(15)N) in muscle. Results revealed high PCB concentrations in fish compared to monitored European estuaries. The muscle of eels was by far the most contaminated fish flesh (Σ7PCBs=1000±440 ng g(-1) on a dry weight basis), while the higher PCB concentrations in liver were measured in flounder (Σ7PCBs=2040±1160 ng g(-1) d.w.). A quantile regression approach allowed to investigate the fate of PCBs in the Gironde estuarine fish assemblage, and revealed a general process of trophic magnification. Finally, most of the analysed fish presented PCB concentrations in muscle meat above the current European maximum limits for sea products, while the derived "Toxic Equivalent Quantity" (TEQ) revealed human health concerns only for high-fat fish consumption.
CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC, Université Bordeaux 1, F-33400 Talence, France; IRD, UMR 212 EME, BP 570, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles.
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Bodin
CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC, Université Bordeaux 1, F-33400 Talence, France.
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Tapie
CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC, Université Bordeaux 1, F-33400 Talence, France.
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Le Ménach
IRD, UMR 212 EME, BP 570, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles.
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Chassot
IRSTEA, 50 Avenue de Verdun Gazinet, 33612 Cestas, France.
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Elie
IRSTEA, 50 Avenue de Verdun Gazinet, 33612 Cestas, France.
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Rochard
CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC, Université Bordeaux 1, F-33400 Talence, France. Electronic address: h.budzinski@epoc.u-bordeaux1.fr.
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Budzinski
D000818:Animals; D004524:Eels / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005432:Flounder / Q000378:metabolism; D005602:France; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010473:Perciformes / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Bioindicators; Biomagnification; Fish assemblage; Food safety; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)