title: Assessment of persistent brominated and chlorinated organic contaminants in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Flanders, Belgium: Levels, profiles and health risk.
abstract: Pooled yellow European eel (Anguilla anguilla (L.)) samples, consisting of 3-10 eels, collected between 2000 and 2009 from 60 locations in Flanders (Belgium) were investigated for persistent contaminants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs). The current study expands the knowledge regarding these contaminant concentrations, their patterns and distribution profiles in aquatic ecosystems. PBDEs, HBCDs, PCBs, and DDTs were detected in all eel samples and some samples had high concentrations (up to 1400, 9500, 41,600 and 7000ng/g lw, respectively). PCB levels accounted for the majority of the contamination in most samples. The high variability in PBDE, HBCD, PCB and DDT concentrations reported here is likely due to the variety in sampling locations demonstrating variable local pollution pressures, from highly industrialised areas to small rural creeks. Among PBDEs, BDE-47 (57% contribution to the sum PBDEs), -100 (19%) and -99 (15%) were the predominant congeners, similar to the composition reported in the literature in eel samples. For HBCDs, α-HBCD (74%) was predominant followed by γ-(22%) and β-HBCD (4%) isomers in almost all eel samples. CB-153 (19%) was the most dominant PCB congener, closely followed by CB-138 (11%), CB-180 (9%), CB-187 (8%) and CB-149 (7%). The contribution to the total human exposure through local wild eel consumption was also highly variable. Intake of PBDEs and HBCDs, through consumption of wild eel, was below the RfD values for the average population (consuming on average 2.9g eel/day). At 16 out 60 sites, eels exceeded largely the new EU consumption threshold for PCBs (300ng/g ww for the sum of 6 indicator PCBs). The current data shows an on-going exposure of Flemish eels to PBDEs, HBCDs, PCBs and DDTs through indirect release from contaminated sediments or direct releases from various industries.
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Govindan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malarvannan
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Duboislaan 14, B-1560 Hoeilaart, Belgium.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belpaire
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Gaverstraat 4, B-9500 Geraardsbergen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geeraerts
authors.affiliation: Ethology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eulaers
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neels
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: adrian.covaci@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
mesh_terms: D000811:Anguilla / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D003634:DDT / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005398:Fisheries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000378:metabolism; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017747:Seafood / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003634:DDT
keywords: European eel; Flanders; HBCDs; Human consumption; PBDEs; PCBs