title: Are Biometric Parameters Helpful to Assess the Health Risk of Consuming Organochlorine Compounds Contaminated Silver European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)?
abstract: Several organochlorine compounds (OCs) were measured in European eels from the Tevere river (Italy). It followed that some of them are still important chemical contaminants. Concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) are hazardous for the consumer health; those of the 6 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are often close to the current European maximum residue limit and always higher than the former limit. The relationship between OC concentrations, biometric parameters and the lipid content was then investigated. A strong positive correlation with eel size emerged for the indicator PCBs and DDTs concentrations expressed on wet weight basis. This is explained by the corresponding higher lipid percentage that characterizes bigger eels and the absence of a dilution effect for compounds of main concerns. On the basis of the PCB-TDI threshold for a 70 kg person, we suggest that 1 should consume no more than 2 eels per week each weighing about 100 g. Thus, we conclude that eel consumption should be limited and restricted to eels relatively shorter and lighter.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Federico II Univ. of Naples, Via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: Experimental Zooprophylactic Inst. of Southern Italy, Via Salute 2, 80055, Portici, (Naples), Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation: Univ. of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naccari
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacy, Federico II University of Naples, Via Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meli
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Federico II Univ. of Naples, Via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Clausi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000811:Anguilla; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D005025:Ethylene Dichlorides / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D059022:Food Safety; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005025:Ethylene Dichlorides; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: European eel; biometric parameters; human health risk; lipid content; organochlorine pesticides; polychlorinated biphenyls