Reproduction of European eel jeopardised by high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs

[en] ioxins, furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analysed in muscle tissue from yellow phased European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from 38 sites in Belgium. Dioxin concentrations in eel vary considerably between sampling locations, indicating that yellow eel is a good indicator of local pollution levels. Measured levels of dioxin-like PCBs are much higher than those of the dioxins and furans. In the majority of the sites, eel has levels considered to be detrimental for their reproduction. Field levels of dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs are therefore suggested as an additional causal factor contributing to the decline of the European eel. 42% of the sampling sites show especially dioxin-like PCB levels exceeding the European consumption level (with a factor 3 on average). Human consumption of eel, especially in these highly contaminated sites, seems unjustified.

Research Center/Unit :

Center for Analytical Research and Technology

Disciplines :

Chemistry

Author, co-author :

Geeraerts, C.

Focant, Jean-François ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie analytique, organique et biologique

Eppe, Gauthier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Chimie analytique inorganique

De Pauw, Edwin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > GIGA-R : Laboratoire de spectrométrie de masse (L.S.M.)

Belpaire, C.

Language :

English

Title :

Reproduction of European eel jeopardised by high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs

Publication date :

2011

Journal title :

Science of the Total Environment

ISSN :

0048-9697

eISSN :

1879-1026

Publisher :

Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Volume :

409

Pages :

4039-4047

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 13 July 2011

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