Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals of global concern due to their potential for long-range transport, persistence in environment, ability to biomagnify and bioaccumulate in ecosystems, as well as their significant negative effects on human health and the environment. In this study, seven targeted polychlorinated byphenils (PCBs, IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) and the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane and oxy-chlordane were quantified in European date mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga L., 1758.) collected from the Sarajevo fish market (Bosnia and Herzegovina). This slow-growing species is widespread along the whole Mediterranean rocky coastline. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), this species has not been protected by law and the date mussel harvested in the area of the Neum bay (Adriatic sea) could be found in free sale on BiH market. Applied gas chromatography and tissue extraction methods were validated in the NIVA laboratory. Our samples (n=61) were 4.5-8.4 cm in length. Total OCPs in the analyzed samples were low (ranging from non-detectable to 0.419 µg kg-1 w.w.), while Σ7PCBs was ranging from 20.26 to 135.37 µg kg-1 w.w.. PCBs 101, 118, 138 and 153 were dominant congeners in all samples.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONContamination of the ecosystems of the coastal area and toxic substances present in aquatic organisms pose risks to human population and the environment, placing itself as one of the global problems of environmental pollution
Contamination of the ecosystems of the coastal area and toxic substances present in aquatic organisms pose risks to human population and the environment, placing itself as one of the global problems of environmental pollution. interesting is a group of semivolatile organic compounds, first of all polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)
Our study has shown that the content of the total seven PCBs in samples of date mussel soft tissue, ranged between 17.19 and 135.37 μg kg-1w.w
Summary
Contamination of the ecosystems of the coastal area and toxic substances present in aquatic organisms pose risks to human population and the environment, placing itself as one of the global problems of environmental pollution. Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides are ubiquitous contaminants with high hydrophobicity, thermal and photo stability, significant toxicity, low reaction potential and the high degree of resistance to degradation processes in environmental media (Herceg Romanić, 2002) Because of their strong tendency for bioaccumulation and biomagnification in different life forms, this group of substances is especially dangerous for organisms at a higher positon in food chain, mainly predatory animals and humans. They can reach an age >54 years (Galen-Mitsoudi and Sinis, 1995; Devescovi and Iveša, 2004; Guidetti and Boero, 2004) They are distributed from the Eastern Atlantic, across the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Due to the fact that they are static organisms with a specific lifestyle and slow rate growth, which feed by filtering particles from the water they represent an aquatic organism with the high potential of bioaccumulation of toxicants. Based on performed preliminary tests it was necessary: To select the commercial sources from which the samples would be obtained; To carry out the extraction and purification of the selected group of persistent organic pollutants from samples of shellfish; To conduct an analysis of the prepared extracts according to established protocols using the method of gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD); To compare the obtained results of the contents of the selected group of persistent organic pollutants with the limits of their maximum levels in foods, according to the appropriate regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
