title: Are persistent organic pollutants and metals in eel muscle predictive for the ecological water quality?
abstract: Relationships between the presence of PCBs, OCPs and metals in aquatic ecosystems and the ecological water quality were investigated by combining datasets of long-term monitoring of chemicals in European eel (Anguilla anguilla, N = 1156) in Flanders (Belgium) and the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR), based on the assessment of fish assemblages at 185 locations. For most pollutants, EQR scores were lower when pollutant levels were higher. Threshold concentrations for a good quality could be formulated for PCB's, most metals and OCPs. Mixed models suggested that the ecological water quality was significantly correlated with the presence of PCBs. However, the low R(2) indicates that other environmental pressures may significantly influence the biotic integrity of fish communities. Empirical data and their analyses are essential to enable defining threshold values of bioaccumulated levels to allow better protection of the aquatic environment and its biota through associated food webs as demanded by the Water Framework Directive.
authors.affiliation: Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: evy.vanael@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Evy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Ael
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Duboislaan 14, 1560 Groenendaal-Hoeilaart, Belgium.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belpaire
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Duboislaan 14, 1560 Groenendaal-Hoeilaart, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breine
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Gaverstraat 4, 9500 Geraardsbergen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geeraerts
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Duboislaan 14, 1560 Groenendaal-Hoeilaart, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gerlinde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Thuyne
authors.affiliation: Ethology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eulaers
authors.affiliation: Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blust
authors.affiliation: Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bervoets
mesh_terms: D000811:Anguilla / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D004463:Ecology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D020387:Food Chain; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Anguilla anguilla; Belgium; Fish community structure; PCBs; Water Framework Directive