Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic compounds, whose occurrence in food may be due to environmental contamination, processing or domestic cooking methods. PAHs are of health concern due to the carcinogenicity shown by many of them, and in particular by benzopy[a]rene, B[a]P, the most studied compound, generally used as a marker of PAH class. B[a]P is formed during incomplete combustion of organic matter and is a prevalent environmental pollutant. B[a]P has been detected in food ranging from <0.1 to 7.2 mg/kg (ATSDR, 1995). The aim of this study was to measure the content of B[a]P in a species of aquatic invertebrates (Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis) and vertebrates (sea bream, Sparus aurata) after subchronic exposure (12, 24, or 72 h) to different B[a]P doses (0.5, 1 and 2mg/L B[a]P in DMSO 0.005%), being controls exposed only to the vehicle (DMSO 0.005%). The results were discussed taking into consideration the European limits for food. Quality and quantitative analysis of B[a]P was performed by means of a high-performance liquid chromatograph (Varian, Australia) equipped with a Supelco Sil LC-PAH column and a fluorimetric detector (Hewlett Packard 1046A). The results revealed higher B[a]P concentrations in mussels than in sea breams, confirming their role as bio-indicators and filtering organisms, since not provided with a physiological or biochemical mechanisms able to regulate the tissue concentrations of contaminants. In fact the mussels have accumulated B[a]P in their tissues proportionally to the amount of the pollutant and with high values (expressed as mean±SD) already at a concentration of 0.5mg/L (1,659±0,217, 4,553±0,274, 6,180±0,411 μg/g f.w., respectively). In sea breams, however, there is no bioaccumulation of B[a]P independently on the dose used (1,876±0,20, 1,658±0,50, 0,809±0,23 μg/g f.w., respectively). Therefore, mussels can perform an important ecological service by keeping our streams and rivers clean.

LEVELS OF BENZO[A]PYRENE FOLLOWING SUBCHRONIC EXPOSURE IN MEDITERRANEAN MUSSELS (MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS) AND SEA BREAMS (SPARUS AURATA)

LO CASCIO, Patrizia;ZENA, ROBERTO;PALOMBIERI, DEBORAH;ALESCI, ALESSIO;SAIJA, Antonina;TROMBETTA, Domenico
2012-01-01

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic compounds, whose occurrence in food may be due to environmental contamination, processing or domestic cooking methods. PAHs are of health concern due to the carcinogenicity shown by many of them, and in particular by benzopy[a]rene, B[a]P, the most studied compound, generally used as a marker of PAH class. B[a]P is formed during incomplete combustion of organic matter and is a prevalent environmental pollutant. B[a]P has been detected in food ranging from <0.1 to 7.2 mg/kg (ATSDR, 1995). The aim of this study was to measure the content of B[a]P in a species of aquatic invertebrates (Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis) and vertebrates (sea bream, Sparus aurata) after subchronic exposure (12, 24, or 72 h) to different B[a]P doses (0.5, 1 and 2mg/L B[a]P in DMSO 0.005%), being controls exposed only to the vehicle (DMSO 0.005%). The results were discussed taking into consideration the European limits for food. Quality and quantitative analysis of B[a]P was performed by means of a high-performance liquid chromatograph (Varian, Australia) equipped with a Supelco Sil LC-PAH column and a fluorimetric detector (Hewlett Packard 1046A). The results revealed higher B[a]P concentrations in mussels than in sea breams, confirming their role as bio-indicators and filtering organisms, since not provided with a physiological or biochemical mechanisms able to regulate the tissue concentrations of contaminants. In fact the mussels have accumulated B[a]P in their tissues proportionally to the amount of the pollutant and with high values (expressed as mean±SD) already at a concentration of 0.5mg/L (1,659±0,217, 4,553±0,274, 6,180±0,411 μg/g f.w., respectively). In sea breams, however, there is no bioaccumulation of B[a]P independently on the dose used (1,876±0,20, 1,658±0,50, 0,809±0,23 μg/g f.w., respectively). Therefore, mussels can perform an important ecological service by keeping our streams and rivers clean.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/2331022
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