The European eel as bioindicator of pollution by organochlorines in a Campania region river (Italy).

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, which tend to bioaccumulate in lipid tissues of living organisms and eventually become dangerous for wildlife and humans. Ingestion is the main source of human exposure to persistent organic pollutants, and, in particular, the consumption of seafood from contaminated areas. There are few papers regarding the state of contamination of the Campania region by organochlorine pollutants; such studies report the presence of high contamination levels in various fish species and fish-eating bird species. In the present study, the levels of some persistent organic pollutants in European eels from the Garigliano river have been investigated. Both behavioural and alimentary habits, and the high lipid content have prompted some to propose that eels act as an excellent bioindicator of environmental pollution by persistent contaminants.European eels (Anguilla anguilla) were caught in proximity of the estuary of the Garigliano river from October 2005 to July 2006. Homogenized samples were extracted by light petroleum/acetone, cleaned up by n-hexane/acetonitrile repartition and separated into three fractions by passing through a glass column packed with Florisil. The cleaned extracts were analysed using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (63Ni ECD) on two fused silica capillary columns at different polarities. Concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), DDTs, dieldrin and 20 PCBs congeners were determined for each sample. Organochlorine concentrations were expressed as nanograms per gram on a lipid weight basis. The statistical analysis was performed by standard descriptive statistics and by the mean test relative to the residual concentrations of the analysed compounds. PCBs were the most abundant pollutants followed by DDTs, dieldrin and HCB. PCBs were found in all the samples at concentrations ranging from 119.69 to 2156.95 ng g-1 f.w., and the sum of the seven “target” congeners (IUPAC nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) constituted the 73% of the total PCBs. p,p’-DDT was detected in 90% of the samples ranging from n.d. to 120.18 ng g-1 f.w., and its main metabolite, p,p' -DDE, was the most frequently detected OCP (from 0.47 to 323.41 ng•g-1 f.w.). A seasonal trend was also observed in the contamination levels with an increase in DDTs and PCBs concentrations respectively during the summer and the winter. From the human health point of view, residue levels of OCPs detected in this study are, in a lot of samples, below the Italian Maximum Residue Limits established by law for fish and aquatic products (DM 13 May 2005 – 4th enclosure). However, concentrations of PCBs (as the sum of the seven targets) exceed the limit recommended by the European Union for terrestrial edible classes of food. The results suggest that the Garigliano river is actually subjected to OCPs and PCBs pollution, although the manufacture and the use of these compounds in Italy were banned or highly restricted many years ago; moreover, the consumption of eels represents a potential risk for consumers especially in this study area.