Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in crucian carp in China market

The pollution levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in crucian carp muscles which were collected from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hubei, Henan and Chongqing provinces (city) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the concentrations of total PBDEs varied from 27.42 to 1140.49 ng/g lipid. The average concentrations of PBDEs were 393.51, 242.88, 161.79, 107.69 and 105.58ng/g lipid in samples from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hubei, Chongqing and Henan, respectively. Among the congeners detected in the fish samples, BDE47 was found to be the most abundant congener. A linear relationship was observed between the concentrations of BDE47 and the total PBDEs (R²=0.947). This result revealed that the concentrations of BDE47 could potentially indicate the total PBDE levels in the fish samples. The data suggested that the pollution of PBDEs in crucian carp from the economically developed coastal areas was more serious than those from the underdeveloped areas in China. The health risks should be evaluated in future because of daily dietary intake of PBDEs from foods (e.g. fish, pork, beef and eggs).