Are Biometric Parameters Helpful to Assess the Health Risk of Consuming Organochlorine Compounds Contaminated Silver European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)?

• Published in: Journal of Food Science
• Main Authors: FERRANTE, MARIA CARMELA, MELI, ROSARIA, CLAUSI, MARIA TERESA, Fusco, Giovanna, Naccari, Clara
• Other Authors: Ferrante, MARIA CARMELA, Meli, Rosaria, Clausi, MARIA TERESA
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Biometric parameter; European eel; Human health risk; Lipid content; Organochlorine pesticide; Polychlorinated biphenyl; Animal; Body Composition; Body Weight; Diet; Ethylene Dichloride; Food Contamination; Food Safety; Human; Hydrocarbons; Chlorinated; Italy; Risk Assessment; Seafood; Water Pollutants; Chemical; Adipose Tissue; Anguilla; Food Science; Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11588/648392; https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.13259; http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118509799/issueyear?year=2008

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.