title: Congener-specific levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls in edible fish tissue from the central Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: All 209 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in edible fish tissue from the central Red Sea coast (Jeddah region) of Saudi Arabia were analyzed by isotope dilution high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The upper-bound total PCB (ΣPCB) levels in nine commonly consumed fish species from three areas were 0.2-82.5ng/g wet weight (17-8450ng/g lipid weight), which were at the lower end of reported global range and far below international tolerance limits (500-3000ng/g ww). Dioxin-like congeners contributed up to 12.8% (mean 6.5%) to ΣPCB in tissue samples, with the total PCB toxic equivalencies (TEQs) at a tolerable range (0.05-2.6pgTEQ/g ww or 2-238pgTEQ/g lw) for all species. PCB profiles were dominated by moderately chlorinated homologs, mainly hexachlorobiphenyls, but less chlorinated congeners were also consistently elevated, notably in Siganus rivulatus (Area III) and Mugil cephalus (Area I). It remains to be ascertained if the latter were breakdown products or due to fresh inputs. The top congeners based on dominance by both occurrence and abundance were identified as potential markers of ΣPCB in fish tissue, which can be used for future selective biomonitoring in case of reasonable constraints on full congener approach.
authors: Coastal and Marine Resources Core Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: zenon.batang@kaust.edu.sa.
authors: Zenon B
authors: ZB
authors: Batang
authors: Coastal and Marine Resources Core Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Nabeel
authors: N
authors: Alikunhi
authors: Environmental and Community Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gochfeld
authors: Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08554, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Burger
authors: Coastal and Marine Resources Core Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ramzi
authors: R
authors: Al-Jahdali
authors: Coastal and Marine Resources Core Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Haitham
authors: H
authors: Al-Jahdali
authors: Directorate of Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammed A M
authors: MAM
authors: Aziz
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Dalal
authors: D
authors: Al-Jebreen
authors: Coastal and Marine Resources Core Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Abdulaziz
authors: A
authors: Al-Suwailem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019156:Indian Ocean; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Contaminant; Jeddah; Organochlorine; PCBs; POPs; Toxic equivalence