Difference between revisions of "Levels of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in various benthic species in the Belgian North sea and the Western Scheldt estuary"

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<u>'''Context of the study'''</u>
 
<u>'''Context of the study'''</u>
  
Both [[PCB|PCBs]] and [[organochlorine pesticides]] (OCPs) are known to be very persistant, to [[Bioaccumulation|bioacumulate]] in lipids and to [[biomagnification|biomagnify]]. They are very wide spread in the environment and in biota. Many people enjoy sea food, therefore, to evaluate our exposure to these toxic chemicals, it's necessary to determine their concentrations in these animals. <ref name="pub">[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=68080 Voorspoels, S.; Covaci, A.; Maervoet, J.; De Meester, I.; Schepens, P. (2004). Levels and profiles of PCBs and OCPs in marine benthic species from the Belgian North Sea and the Western Scheldt Estuary. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 49(5-6): 393-404]</ref>
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Both [[PCB|PCBs]] and [[organochlorine pesticides]] (OCPs) are known to be very persistant, to [[Bioaccumulation|bioacumulate]] in lipids and to [[biomagnification|biomagnify]]. They are very wide spread in the environment and in [[biota]]. Many people enjoy sea food, therefore, to evaluate our exposure to these toxic chemicals, it's necessary to determine their concentrations in these animals. <ref name="pub">[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=68080 Voorspoels, S.; Covaci, A.; Maervoet, J.; De Meester, I.; Schepens, P. (2004). Levels and profiles of PCBs and OCPs in marine benthic species from the Belgian North Sea and the Western Scheldt Estuary. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 49(5-6): 393-404]</ref>
  
 
<u>'''Content of the study'''</u>
 
<u>'''Content of the study'''</u>
  
The study measured concentrations of PCBs and OCPs in crabs, starfish, shrimp, sand goby, sole, plaice, whiting and bib in the Western Scheldt estuary and in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This was done, to evaluate their suitability for human consumption, except for sand goby and starfish, which were monitored as sentinel species. As it's known that PCBs and OCPs tend to accumulate in lipids, the lipid content of the animals was also examined.
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The study measured concentrations of PCBs and OCPs in crabs, starfish, shrimp, sand goby, sole, plaice, whiting and bib in the Western Scheldt estuary and in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This was done to evaluate their suitability for human consumption, except for sand goby and starfish, which were monitored as [[bioindicator|bioindicators]]. As it's known that PCBs and OCPs tend to accumulate in lipids, the lipid content of the animals was also examined.
 
 
 
 
<u>'''Main results of the study'''</u>
 
  
 
[[Image:grondels.jpg|thumb|right|300px| <div style="text-align: center;">
 
[[Image:grondels.jpg|thumb|right|300px| <div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>]]
 
</div>]]
  
Shrimp had the lowest concentrations of PCBs: 1.5-40 ng/g (in ng PCB / g total tissue). Bib and whiting had the highest concentrations of PCBs: 810 - 3200 ng/g and 780 - 3100 ng/g respectively. Shrimp probably had these lower concentrations because of their lower fat content (0,6% compared to 50% for bib) and because of their more pelagic life style. Shrimp live slightly above the seabed, which results in them having less contact with the sediment, than the other species in this study. Furthermore, shrimp occupy a lower trophic level (they eat opossum shrimp and amphipods) than most other species of the study. Crabs had a higher PCB content, because as scavengers, they eat much decaying organic material, which can be heavily polluted.
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<u>'''Main results of the study'''</u>
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Shrimp had the lowest concentrations of PCBs: 1.5-40 ng/g (in ng PCB / g; [[wet weight]]). Bib and whiting had the highest concentrations of PCBs: 810 - 3200 ng/g and 780 - 3100 ng/g respectively. Shrimp probably had these lower concentrations because of their lower fat content (0,6% compared to 50% for bib) and their more [[pelagic]] life style. Shrimp live slightly above the seabed, which results in them having less contact with the sediment, than the other species in this study. Furthermore, shrimp occupy a lower [[Trophic level - a marine example|trophic level]] (they eat opossum shrimp and amphipods) than most other species of the study. Crabs had a higher PCB content, because as [[pollution and scavengers|scavengers]], they eat much decaying organic material, which can be heavily polluted.
  
 
Furthermore, PCB levels were much higher in all species from the Western Scheldt estuary, than in those from the Belgian part of the North Sea.   
 
Furthermore, PCB levels were much higher in all species from the Western Scheldt estuary, than in those from the Belgian part of the North Sea.   
  
OCPs were present at much lower concentrations than PCBs: ranging from 0.4 - 1.7 ng/g in shrimp to 22 - 410 ng/g in whiting. Here also, concentrations tended to be higher in animals from the Western Scheldt, than in those from the Belgian part of the North Sea.
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OCPs were present at much lower concentrations than PCBs: ranging from 0.4 - 1.7 ng/g in shrimp to 22 - 410 ng/g (in ng OCP/ g; wet weight) in whiting. Here also, concentrations tended to be higher in animals from the Western Scheldt, than in those from the Belgian part of the North Sea.
  
 
The study concluded that species in the Western Scheldt estuary are highly contaminated and that this appears to be related to their proximity to Antwerp. The study could not determine whether the higher concentrations found in animals close to Antwerp only reflected historical pollution or also a present contamination.<ref name="pub">[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=68080 Voorspoels, S.; Covaci, A.; Maervoet, J.; De Meester, I.; Schepens, P. (2004). Levels and profiles of PCBs and OCPs in marine benthic species from the Belgian North Sea and the Western Scheldt Estuary. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 49(5-6): 393-404]</ref>
 
The study concluded that species in the Western Scheldt estuary are highly contaminated and that this appears to be related to their proximity to Antwerp. The study could not determine whether the higher concentrations found in animals close to Antwerp only reflected historical pollution or also a present contamination.<ref name="pub">[http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=68080 Voorspoels, S.; Covaci, A.; Maervoet, J.; De Meester, I.; Schepens, P. (2004). Levels and profiles of PCBs and OCPs in marine benthic species from the Belgian North Sea and the Western Scheldt Estuary. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 49(5-6): 393-404]</ref>
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==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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{{author
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|AuthorID=19826
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|AuthorFullName=Daphnis De Pooter
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|AuthorName=Daphnisd}}
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[[Category:Ecotoxicology]]
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[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]

Latest revision as of 17:32, 5 November 2019

Sole on ice © Decleer

Context of the study

Both PCBs and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are known to be very persistant, to bioacumulate in lipids and to biomagnify. They are very wide spread in the environment and in biota. Many people enjoy sea food, therefore, to evaluate our exposure to these toxic chemicals, it's necessary to determine their concentrations in these animals. [1]

Content of the study

The study measured concentrations of PCBs and OCPs in crabs, starfish, shrimp, sand goby, sole, plaice, whiting and bib in the Western Scheldt estuary and in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This was done to evaluate their suitability for human consumption, except for sand goby and starfish, which were monitored as bioindicators. As it's known that PCBs and OCPs tend to accumulate in lipids, the lipid content of the animals was also examined.

Bunch of sand gobies © Vandepitte, Leen


Main results of the study

Shrimp had the lowest concentrations of PCBs: 1.5-40 ng/g (in ng PCB / g; wet weight). Bib and whiting had the highest concentrations of PCBs: 810 - 3200 ng/g and 780 - 3100 ng/g respectively. Shrimp probably had these lower concentrations because of their lower fat content (0,6% compared to 50% for bib) and their more pelagic life style. Shrimp live slightly above the seabed, which results in them having less contact with the sediment, than the other species in this study. Furthermore, shrimp occupy a lower trophic level (they eat opossum shrimp and amphipods) than most other species of the study. Crabs had a higher PCB content, because as scavengers, they eat much decaying organic material, which can be heavily polluted.

Furthermore, PCB levels were much higher in all species from the Western Scheldt estuary, than in those from the Belgian part of the North Sea.

OCPs were present at much lower concentrations than PCBs: ranging from 0.4 - 1.7 ng/g in shrimp to 22 - 410 ng/g (in ng OCP/ g; wet weight) in whiting. Here also, concentrations tended to be higher in animals from the Western Scheldt, than in those from the Belgian part of the North Sea.

The study concluded that species in the Western Scheldt estuary are highly contaminated and that this appears to be related to their proximity to Antwerp. The study could not determine whether the higher concentrations found in animals close to Antwerp only reflected historical pollution or also a present contamination.[1]


References

The main author of this article is Daphnis De Pooter
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.

Citation: Daphnis De Pooter (2019): Levels of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in various benthic species in the Belgian North sea and the Western Scheldt estuary. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Levels_of_PCBs_and_organochlorine_pesticides_in_various_benthic_species_in_the_Belgian_North_sea_and_the_Western_Scheldt_estuary [accessed on 28-03-2024]