PCBs and PCDD/Fs in Bluefin Tuna: Occurrence and Dietary Intake

Grazia Barone, Arianna Storelli, Rita Garofalo, Rosanna Mallamaci, Nicoletta C. Quaglia and Maria Maddalena Storelli
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Grazia Barone: Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutical Department, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Prov. le per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano (Ba), Italy
Arianna Storelli: Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutical Department, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Prov. le per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano (Ba), Italy
Rita Garofalo: Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutical Department, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Prov. le per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano (Ba), Italy
Rosanna Mallamaci: Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutical Department, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Prov. le per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano (Ba), Italy
Nicoletta C. Quaglia: Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Section of Veterinary Clinic and Animal Production, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Prov. le per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano (Ba), Italy
Maria Maddalena Storelli: Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutical Department, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Prov. le per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano (Ba), Italy

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) were measured in Mediterranean bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ) to verify the compliance with the EU regulations for food commercialization. The estimated intakes were also evaluated. The analyses were performed by gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). The PCBs were dominant (1132.0 ng g −1 l.w.), followed by PCDFs (23.2 pg g −1 l.w.) and PCDDs (8.5 pg g −1 l.w.). The pollutant levels (dl-PCBs: 0.7 pg TEQ/g w.w.; PCDD/Fs: 1.9 pg TEQ/g w.w.) and their sum expressed as TEQ values (2.6 pg TEQ/g w.w.) remained below the limits for human consumption proposed by the European Union. On the contrary, the sum of the six indicator non-dioxin-like PCBs (84.2 ng g −1 w.w.) was slightly above the maximum level fixed by the in-force legislation. The estimated dietary intakes for PCDD/Fs plus dl-PCBs were below the toxicological reference values (TRVs) set by various international bodies, while non-cancer and cancer risk assessment revealed a safety concern. Additionally, the estimated intake of ndl-PCBs exceeded the maximum levels set by different European countries. These findings suggest caution in tuna consumption together with an active and frequent surveillance of the chemical quality of its flesh.

Keywords: bluefin tuna; estimated dietary intake; PCBs; PCDD/Fs; risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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