title: Levels of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in seafood from Sydney Harbour, Australia.
abstract: Sydney Harbour, Australia is contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) due to a historical Union Carbide chemical manufacturing facility. We measured levels of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in over 400 seafood samples (covering 20 species) collected throughout Sydney Harbour. Concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 193 pg total TEQ (WHO05)/g wet weight. These concentrations were above those considered safe for human consumption in many cases. Dioxin accumulation varied among species and was associated with life history traits. Mobile species had elevated concentrations throughout Sydney Harbour whereas accumulation in species likely to move less widely was dependent on the distance they were caught from the point source. This large scale study on multiple species of recreationally caught seafood resulted in the implementation of human consumption advisories for recreational fishing based on individual species and distance from point source. In addition, all forms of commercial fishing in Sydney Harbour were banned.
authors.affiliation: Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232, Australia.
authors.forename: Therese M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.affiliation: Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.affiliation: Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232, Australia. Electronic address: katelyn.edge@environment.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Katelyn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Edge
authors.affiliation: Fisheries NSW, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Doug J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ferrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Contamination; Dioxin-like PCBs; Dioxins; Fish; Fish consumption; Seafood