Pooled yellow eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) samples, consisting of 3-10 eels, from 50
locations collected in the period 2000-2006 were used to assess the pollution with
PBDEs and HBCDs in Flemish waters (Belgium). Results from this monitoring network
are presented and the spatial aspect throughout Flanders is included, linking POP
levels to the industrial characteristics of the different sampling locations. The
following PBDE congeners were measured using GC/MS: 28, 47, 49, 66, 85, 99, 100, 153,
154, 183 and 209. Concentrations of summation sigmaPBDE ranged between 10 and 5811
ng/g lipid weight (lw) with a median value of 81 ng/glw. BDE 47 dominated the PBDE
profile in the majority of the eel samples, except for six samples, in which BDE 209
was the dominating congener. These latter samples are probably associated with recent
exposure to the Deca-BDE mixture. Three HBCD diastereoisomers (alpha-, beta- and gamma-HBCD)
were measured using LC/MS-MS. summation sigmaHBCDs ranged between 16 and 4397 ng/glw,
with a median value of 73 ng/glw. alpha-HBCD was the dominant isomer in all eel samples.
Sediment concentrations of PBDEs were available from four locations and were used
to compare the PBDE profile with those in eel. An important shift in the profile was
observed, especially for BDE 209. While BDE 209 was only found in 12 eel samples,
it was the dominant congener in all sediment samples. This could be due to its metabolisation
or degradation in biota combined with the poor uptake of BDE 209 from sediments and
its very low water solubility. No HBCDs were detected in any of the sediment samples.
No significant correlation could be found between concentrations of PBDEs in eel and
sediment from the same location. Comparison with previous studies shows that PBDE
and HBCD levels in Flemish eels have decreased rapidly between 2000 and 2006 at particular
sites, but alarming concentrations can still be found at industrialized hot spots.
This finding is reflected in the human exposure to PBDEs and HBCDs through eel consumption.
For average consumers (2.9 geel/day), intakes ranged between 3 and 2295 ng/day for
summation sigmaPBDEs (with a median value of 16 ng/day) and between 3 and 1110 ng/day
for summation sigmaHBCDs (with a median value of 18 ng/day), respectively. Additionally,
human intakes were calculated for recreational fishermen, eating up to 12 g or 86
geel/day. Intakes of those risk groups were higher in comparison with average consumers
and were above reference doses described in literature which may induce adverse effects.
Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.