title: Early contamination of European flounder (Platichthys flesus) by PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in European waters.
abstract: Contamination levels and profiles of 7 polychlorinated-p-dioxins, 10 polychlorinated furans (PCDD/Fs) and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) were investigated in juvenile European flounder (Platichthys flesus) captured in different nursery areas in the northeastern Atlantic coast across its geographical distribution range. The toxic equivalent concentrations (WHO-TEQfish) were also determined in order to evaluate which P. flesus population was more exposed to dioxin-like toxicity. Juveniles caught in the Sørfjord (Norway) showed the lowest WHO-TEQfish concentration (0.052 pg WHO-TEQfish g(-1)wet weight) whereas the highest value was observed in fish from the Wadden Sea (The Netherlands; 0.291 pg WHO-TEQfish g(-1)ww), mainly due to the greater contribution of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, the most toxic congener. Nonetheless, when comparing the results with existent tissue residue-based toxicity benchmarks, no adverse effects resulting from PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs are expected to occur in flounder from the studied systems.
authors.affiliation: CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal; CEF - Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Health Sciences Campus, Bromatology Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: mnc@ci.uc.pt.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinho
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Oniris, Laboratoire d'Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), CS50707, F-44307 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Anaïs
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vernisseau
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Oniris, Laboratoire d'Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), CS50707, F-44307 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Oniris, Laboratoire d'Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), CS50707, F-44307 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le Bizec
authors.affiliation: NIOZ - Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg Texel, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henk W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: van der Veer
authors.affiliation: Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Henrique N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.affiliation: CEF - Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Health Sciences Campus, Bromatology Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pardal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D005432:Flounder; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis*; D005843:Geography; D009426:Netherlands; D009664:Norway; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D012623:Seawater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D004147:Dioxins; D005663:Furans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Atlantic; Fish; Flounder; Juvenile; PCBs; PCDD/Fs