Probabilistic approach to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure through eel consumption in recreational fishermen vs. the general population

Abstract

Concentrations of the sum of the seven indicator PCBs (Σ₇ iPCBs) measured in non-commercial European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in Flanders are high: in 80% of all sampled localities, the Belgian PCB standard for fish was exceeded. The objective of this study was to assess the intake of the Σ₇ iPCBs through consumption of eel by recreational fishermen and to compare it to the intake of a background population. The median estimated intake for recreational fishermen varied between 18.4 and 237.6 ng iPCBs kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹, depending on the consumption scenario, while the estimated intake of the background population (consumers only) was 4.3 ng iPCBs kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹. Since the levels of intake via eel for two intake scenarios were, respectively, 50 and 25 times higher than the intake of the background population, the body burden (BB) might be proportionally higher and reach levels of toxicological relevance. The intake of the seven iPCBs via consumption of self-caught eel in Flanders is at a level to cause serious concern. The Flemish catch-and-release obligation for eel, established in 2002, should be maintained and supervised (more) carefully.

Keywords:

• Indicator PCB
• dietary intake
• exposure
• recreational fisheries

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Kristof Vlietinck for his contribution to eel consumption data of fishermen. Food safety research at the Department of Public Health, Ghent University, is funded by the Centre for Health and Environment of the Flemish Ministry of Public Health, the Belgian Science Policy through the SPSD II project CP/02/56 and the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen).