Toxicological evaluation of organochlorine levels on some fish specimens from Adriatic Sea

The aim of this study is to assess the organochlorine levels and their toxic impact in some fish specimens of commercial importance in terms of utilisation for human diet. Fish samples of Merluccius merluccius, Sprattus sprattus, Sardina pilchardus, Scomber japonicus, Boops boops and Mullus barbatus were collected in different sites along the Adriatic Sea during winter 1996 and 1997. Polychlorinated biphenyls including mono-, and di-ortho congeners, dichlorodiphenyltrichloro-ethane (DDT) including its derivates and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were analysed to evaluate their bioaccumulation in the food chain. The 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents (TEQs) were assessed based on congener concentrations and toxic equivalency factors (TEFs). The PCB, DDT and HCB levels detected were higher in Merluccius merluccius followed by Sardina pilchardus and on the same lower range that of Boops boops, Mullus barbatus, Scomber japonicus, Sprattus sprattus. In terms of toxicological evaluation, the TEQs approach calculated for some PCB congeners, revealed the highest values for liver of Merluccius merluccius followed by that of Sardina pilchardus muscle fillets.