Occurrence of Organochlorines Contaminants in Coastal Fish from Sepetiba Bay: Levels and Human Health Repercussions

The aim of this study was to survey levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in white mullet (Mugil curema),
common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), and acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa), collected at Sepetiba
bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March-August 2013. PCBs and PCDD/Fs were determined by High Resolution Gas
Chromatography/High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) as stated by the US EPA 1613B, 1668B,
and 8290A methods. The concentration of total PCBs ranged from 0.589688 ~ 0.6981629 pg-WHO-TEQ/g ww
and PCDDs/PCDFs ranged from 0.134037 ~ 0.242573 pg-WHO-TEQ/g ww. The concentrations of these
contaminants on fish species currently appear to fall below critical values, and the dietary consumption of these
species did not represent a risk for human health. However, seeking to avoid future problems, systematic
monitoring can prevent complications to the environment, marine wildlife and public health impacts.

The aim of this study was to survey levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in white mullet (Mugil curema),
common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), and acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa), collected at Sepetiba
bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March-August 2013. PCBs and PCDD/Fs were determined by High Resolution Gas
Chromatography/High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) as stated by the US EPA 1613B, 1668B,
and 8290A methods. The concentration of total PCBs ranged from 0.589688 ~ 0.6981629 pg-WHO-TEQ/g ww
and PCDDs/PCDFs ranged from 0.134037 ~ 0.242573 pg-WHO-TEQ/g ww. The concentrations of these
contaminants on fish species currently appear to fall below critical values, and the dietary consumption of these
species did not represent a risk for human health. However, seeking to avoid future problems, systematic
monitoring can prevent complications to the environment, marine wildlife and public health impacts.