Organochlorine compounds in swordfish (Xiphias gladius) from the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is an intensively fished species of high commercial value. Due to the great use forhuman consumption, it is important to evaluate the presence of toxic contaminants in their fillets. Mono and non-ortho polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), p,p′ and o,p′ isomers of DDT, DDE, and DDD, polychlorodibenzo-dioxins and -furans (PCDDs/DFs) were detected in all samples of liver and muscle tissues of male and female specimens. GC–ECD and GC–MS analyses revealed higher concentrations ofΣPCBs in liver samples of males (64±19 ng/g wet wt) and females (ΣPCBs (47±45 ng/g wet wt). The ΣPCB concentrations found in samples of the fillet were 21±13 ng/g wet wt in males and 16±16 ng/g wet wt in females. p,p′-DDE was the most abundant isomer ofΣDTTs in all the samples; HCH was always below 0.1 ng/g wet wt. PCDD/Fs were below the limits of detection (LOD=0.1 pg/g wet wt). Toxic Equivalents (TEQs) and the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) were evaluated for mono-, non-ortho PCB congeners and PCDD/DF congeners. The presence of toxic contaminants in Mediterranean swordfish should be monitored regularly due to the commercial value of this species and its large use in human diet.