Determination and quantification of PCBs, POCs and PAHs in Thunnus thynnus from the Straits of Messina (Italy).

Emanuele Saija,Valentina Mangano,Giovanna Loredana La Torre,Katia Ermina Casale,Andrea Salvo,Giacomo Dugo

doi:10.1016/j.dib.2016.02.027

Abstract

This data set is composed to assess the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dioxin like (DL) and not dioxin like (NDL), organochlorine pesticides (POCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Thunnus thynnus and to elucidate the suitability of this species as a bioindicator for monitoring contaminations of these compounds in the marine ecosystems of the Straits of Messina.This investigation was conducted on liver samples of 14 T. thynnus collected during April 2015. Quantitative determination of PCBs (DL and NDL), POCs and PAHs in the examined samples has been carried out by HRGC-MS/MS.Among the PCBs, high prevalence of DL was found while, generally, the values detected for PCBs–NDL were lower than the legal limits. Tuna samples analyzed for PAHs residues revealed that all the samples were contaminated with acenaphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene. Moreover, generally the residual levels of DDT and DDT metabolites were low.The total content of PCB–DL, in almost all the samples, showed higher concentration than the legal limit.

Highlights

This investigation was conducted on liver samples of 14 T. thynnus collected during April 2015
Among the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), high prevalence of dioxin like (DL) was found while, generally, the values detected for PCBs–not dioxin like (NDL) were lower than the legal limits
Tuna samples analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) residues revealed that all the samples were contaminated with acenaphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene

Summary

Data and experimental design

One of the focal points of food safety is the presence of chemical contaminants. Among the different sources of contamination which food such as fish is exposed, you can include those due to some of the most persistent organic pollutants, such as organochlorine pesticides (POCs) still present in the soil and river sediments as a result of their uncontrolled use in past years, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) resulting from industrial emissions [1,2,3,4] and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are distributed in colloidal dispersion of aqueous environment [5]. PAHs through oral administration is the most relevant and that in particular, benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]anthracene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene are considered as the most suitable indicators of PAH in food [11] Due to their lipophilic properties, POPs primarily accumulate in fat-rich products exposing consumer of dairy products to significant levels of contamination [12]. Based on this knowledge and considering that POPs measured in animals can directly contribute to detecting, quantifying, and understanding the significance of exposure to chemicals in the environment [13], we aimed to produce reliable and comparable data on the levels of POCs, PAHs and PCBs in tuna samples from the central Mediterranean Sea in order to assess quality and safety levels for consumption. The levels of individual POCs, PAHs and PCBs were determined by HRGC-MS/MS

Fat extraction and clean-up

Findings

POPs determination