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, P., Herrenknecht, C., Mouneyrac, C., Poirier, L.
• Other Authors: UNIVERSITE DE NANTES MMS NANTES FRA, LUNAM UNIVERSITE LABERCA NANTES FRA, IRSTEA BORDEAUX UR EABX FRA, UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE L'OUEST ANGERS FRA
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: ANGUILLA ANGUILLA; POLYCHLORURE DE BIPHENYLE; CONTAMINATION CHIMIQUE; ESTUAIRE; ANALYSE DU CYCLE DE VIE; PCB; LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS; POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS; CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION; ESTUARIES; Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: https://irsteadoc.irstea.fr/cemoa/PUB00041000

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.