PCDDs, PCDFs, and Dioxin-like PCBs in Breams (Abramis brama) from German Rivers: Results from the German Environmental Specimen Bank
Schröter-Kermani, Christa; Herrmann, Thomas; Päpke, Olaf; Stachel, Burkhard
Organohalogen compounds 66 (2004), 1779-1782
Abstract
In July 2002 a new regulation of the European Commission came into force setting maximum permitted values for PCDD/Fs in food. Until the end of 2004 these limit values have to be verified with current monitoring data, especially in regard to the integration of dioxin-like PCBs in this regulation. It is well known that fish accumulate lypophilic substances to a high degree from their aquatic surroundings so that fish and fish products are an important source of human intake of dioxins.
Several studies have been published recently regarding the contamination of marine fish species with PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs, but less is known about the contamination of fresh water fish with these substances. To bridge this gap, the German environmental specimen bank (ESB) analyzed archived bream muscle samples for PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs.
Breams are widely distributed in Europe and often used as a monitoring organism for fresh water and sediment contamination because of their small migration radius. As adult breams feed mainly on benthic invertebrates they are permanently in direct contact with the sediments.
Although bream is less consumed at least in Germany the here presented results might facilitate general statements regarding the contamination of other fresh water fish species with PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs.