Organochlorine pollutants in European eel ( Anguilla anguilla L.) from Poland

Abstract

The purpose of the current paper is to report the levels of OC pesticides (∑HCHs, HCB, ∑DDTs), marker PCBs, PCDD/Fs, and dl-PCBs in the muscle tissue of European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L. ), collected in the Vistula and Szczecin lagoons (Poland), and in the local market. The results obtained were evaluated according to maximum limits adopted by EU, and some national legislatures. The intake of organochlorine contaminants from the consumption of eel from Polish waters is also estimated. The residues of tested contaminants ranged between: 0.6 and 6.0 ng g −1 ww for ∑HCHs; 9.8 and 273.9 ng g −1 ww for ∑DDTs; 0.4 and 23.8 ng g −1 ww for HCB; 4.0 and 533.9 ng g −1 ww ∑ 7PCBs; 0.72 and 8.14 pg-WHO-TEQ g −1 ww for ∑PCDD/F/DL-PCBs. The levels of OCPs, and PCDD/F/dl-PCBs in the muscle tissues of eels captured in the Vistula and Szczecin lagoons were compliant with European regulations.