Dioxin-like, non-dioxin like PCB and PCDD/F contamination in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from the Loire estuarine continuum: spatial and biological variabilities

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Blanchet Letrouvé, I., Zalouk Vergnoux, A., Vénisseau, A., Couderc, M., Le Bizec, B., Elie, Pierre, Herrenknecht, C., Mouneyrac, C., Poirier, L.
• Other Authors: Mer, molécules et santé EA 2160 (MMS), Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Le Mans Université (UM)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN), Laboratoire d'étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS), Ecosystèmes aquatiques et changements globaux (UR EABX), Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), Groupe ESSCA (ESSCA)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2014
• Subjects: ANALYSE DE CYCLE DE VIE; ESTUAIRE; ANGUILLA ANGUILLA; PCB; CONTAMINATION CHIMIQUE; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00993492; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00993492/document; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00993492/file/hal1.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.037

To characterize the eel contamination by dioxin-like (dl) and non dioxin-like (ndl) PCBs and PCDD/Fs, 62 eels from the Loire estuary (France) were analyzed. PCB contamination significantly increased from glass eel stage (3.7 ±1.9 and 15.2±4.2 ng.g-1 dw) to other life stages (for yellow eels: 62.8±34.4 and 381.8±181.8 ng.g-1 dw; for silver eels: 93.7±56.3 and 463.2±244.6 ng.g-1 dw respectively for dl and ndl PCB). An inter-site variability based on PCB levels and fingerprints was observed between the three studied sites. The glass eel pattern was mainly characterized by the less chlorinated PCBs contrarily to the other eels, underlying a different bioaccumulation pathway. Overall, eels from this estuary showed an intermediate contamination level compared to other international/national areas. However, more than 60% of studied silver eels displayed WHO2005 PCDD/F and dl-PCB TEQ values higher than the recommended level of 10 pg.g-1 ww. This statement indicates a potential exposure to PCBs through eel consumption, especially with silver individuals, and could potentially lead to damages for the eel population.