Salmon farms as a source of organohalogenated contaminants in wild fish

Organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs), including organochlorines (OCs; PCB, and OC-pesticides), brominated flame retardants (BFRs; polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDE], hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD]) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), were measured in livers of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and saithe (Pollachius virens) caught in the vicinity of salmon farms (n = 75) and control sites (n = 80) in three regions (59°-70°N) in Norway. Forty-five percent of the farm-associated (FA) fish (60% of the saithe and 30% of the cod) and none of the control fish had salmon feed (aquaculture food pellets) in their digestive tracts. Concentrations of OCs and BFRs were about 50% higher and dominated more by persistent compounds in Atlantic cod compared to saithe. After controlling for a set of confounding variables (location, sex, size, weight, gonads size, hepatosomatic index, and % lipids in the liver), the concentrations of ∑OC and ∑BDE were 50% higher in FA cod compared to control fish, whereas they were 20% higher in FA saithe than control fish. Hence, salmon farms are a source of lipid-soluble OHCs to wild marine fish, but variation in life-history and habitat use seems to affect the levels of OHCs in the different fish species. In contrast to the lipid-soluble OHCs, control fish had 67% higher PFOS levels than FA fish, which suggests that natural food contains higher loads of this compound than the commercial feed used in salmon farms. Some OHCs are known to act as endocrine disruptors, thus further work is required to determine if OHCs negatively affect reproductive processes of wild fish associated with salmon farms.     

Persistent organic pollutants in fish: biomonitoring and cocktail effect with implications for food safety

The impact of anthropogenic wastes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the marine environment has increased in the last decades. POPs include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs). To assess the levels of these POPs in the wild fish population, pelagic and benthopelagic predator fish species were selected as biomonitors. For detection and quantification of POPs in muscular tissues, a simple extraction through Accelerated-Solvent-Extraction (ASE) with an ‘in-line’ clean up purification approach was applied, followed by a GC–MS/MS analysis. Concentrations of sum DDT, sum HCH and endrin correlated with all PCB concentrations. Significant differences among fish species were found for all OCs and all PCBs except PCB 31 and 101. Blackspot seabream had the highest PCB concentrations; OCs were highest in tuna. Due to major concerns regarding fish population losses and the possible human chronic exposure to contaminated fish, studies addressing combined effects of multiple POPs (‘cocktail effect’) should be implemented. Our data motivate further experimental and observational studies in fish to define adequate baseline levels for cumulative human exposure and potential role of these contaminants for food safety.     

The occurrence of organochlorines in marine avian top predators along a latitudinal gradient

The aim of this study was to determine the role of cold condensation and fractionation on the occurrence of organochlorine contaminants (OCs) in avian marine top predators along a latitudinal gradient. We measured 24 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and six pesticide OCs in blood of great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) from the Norwegian Coast (58 degrees N-70 degrees N) and glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from Bjornoya in the Norwegian Arctic (74 degrees N). Glaucous gulls had up to 3 times higher sigmaOC concentrations compared to the great black-backed gulls, and a OC pattern dominated largely by persistent and low volatile compounds such as highly chlorinated PCBs and metabolites such as oxychlordane. This was not consistent with cold condensation and fractionation theory, but probably related to diet and elevated biomagnification. Among great black-backed gulls, however, there were indications of both cold condensation and fractionation. Higher and lower chlorinated PCBs had highest absolute concentrations in the south and in the north, respectively, except for one location at an intermediate latitude, where concentrations of most OCs exceeded all other locations. In terms of proportional contribution to sigmaOC (pattern), relatively volatile OCs such as HCB, oxychlordane and tri- to penta- PCB congeners were more important at northern latitudes, while hexa- to nona-PCBs made up a larger proportion of sigmaOC in the south. The results thus showed that differences in global distribution of compounds with different physicochemical properties could be detected in avian top predators such as large gulls, even if biomagnification and biotransformation influence both the absolute concentrations and the patterns of OCs.     

Aluminium content in edible parts of seafood

Samples of the edible parts of different fish species and of crustacean and molluscan shellfish were collected in the North Sea, the Barents Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Northeast Atlantic, and in Greenland waters. Most of the aluminium concentrations in fillets of lean and fatty fish were lower than 0.2?mg Al/kg wet weight. Exceptions were the aluminium concentrations in fillets of fish caught near an aluminium smelting plant (up to 1?mg Al/kg wet weight). Presumably a connection between the aluminium content in sea water and the fish fillets is responsible for this. The investigations of fillets of saithe, haddock, and cod with different lengths (age) showed that the aluminium levels decreased with increasing length, however, the decrease was not significant. An aluminium accumulation in muscle tissue with increasing age could not be detected. A comparison between fillets and different organs of cod showed higher aluminium concentrations in organs, especially in gills. The aluminium intake via gills, which are in continuous contact with the ambient water, is responsible for this. In the edible part of crustacean and molluscan shellfish higher aluminium concentrations (up to 5?mg Al/kg wet weight) were detected. The different feed spectrum and metabolism of these species seem to be responsible for the higher aluminium accumulation in marine crustacean and molluscan shellfish.     

Modeling relationships between Baltic Sea herring (Clupea harengus) biology and contaminant concentrations using multivariate data analysis

Baltic Sea herring (Clupea harengus) is a pelagic, zoo-planktivorous fish and young (2-5 years old) individuals of this species are sampled annually in the Swedish marine monitoring program. This study determined concentrations of organochlorines (OCs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in dorsal muscle from herring (n = 60) of varying age (2-13 years), weight (25-200 g), and body length (16-29 cm) caught at three locations in the Swedish part of the Baltic Proper. In order to ensure that the fish biology was as varied as possible, though still similar from all sampling sites, the fish to be chemically analyzed were selected from a large number of fish with determined biology using Multivariate Design. In statistical evaluation of the data, univariate and multivariate data analysis techniques, e.g. principal components analysis (PCA), partial least-squares regression (PLS), and orthogonal PLS (OPLS), were used. The results showed that the fish are exposed to a cocktail of contaminants and levels are presented. Significant OPLS models were found for all biological variables versus concentrations of OCs and BFRs, showing that fish biology covaries with fish contaminant concentrations. Correlation coefficients were as high as 0.98 for e.g. βHCH concentration (wet weight) versus the lipid content. Lastly, the OC concentrations in herring muscle were modeled against the BFR concentrations to determine whether concentrations of either could be used to predict the other. It was found that OPLS models allowed BFR concentrations to be predicted from OC concentrations with high, but varying, accuracy (R(2)Ys between 0.93 to 0.75). Thus, fish biology and contaminant concentrations are interwoven, and fish biological parameters can be used to calculate (predict) contaminant concentrations. It is also possible to predict the BFR concentrations in an individual fish from its concentrations of OCs with very high accuracy.     

The use of stable isotopes for authentication of gadoid fish species

The rise of processed seafood in international trade has increased the feasibility of fish species substitution. Gadidae fish species are sold commercially as salted fish, and differences in price between fish of different species may lead to falsification. The present study addresses this falsification issue by attempting to discriminate among salted Atlantic cod and salted saithe using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) as well as the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N). δ¹⁵N in tissues with lower turnover rates (bone and skin) and in tissues with greater turnover rates (muscle) can be used to authenticate the species of salted fish samples when distinguishing between Atlantic cod and saithe.     

Why do organochlorine differences between arctic regions vary among trophic levels?

Statistical analysis of organochlorine contaminants (OCs) in marine mammals has shown that, for most OCs, the European Arctic is more contaminated than the Canadian and U.S. Arctic. Recently, comparison of OC concentration ranges in seabirds, arctic cod (Boregadus saida), and zooplankton, found no difference between these regions. To address these inconsistencies, marine food web OC data from the European (central Barents Sea (CBS)) and Canadian Arctic (Northwater Polynya (NOW)) were simultaneously statistically analyzed. In general, concentrations of OCs were greater in seabirds and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the CBS as compared to the NOW; consistent with circumpolar trends observed in marine mammals. In contrast, levels of OCs were generally similar in zooplankton and arctic cod between the CBS and NOW. The main exception is HCH which had greater levels in the NOW across all trophic levels because of the greater proximity to sources in eastern Asia. The lack of differences in OC concentrations in zooplankton and Arctic cod from the European and Canadian Arctic suggest that regional differences in OC contamination in the Arctic have evened out. Reduced regional differences were not observed in marine mammals or seabirds because they are long-lived and also acquire contaminants from maternal transfer and hence reflect levels from the past when the European Arctic was more contaminated than the Canadian Arctic. In addition, seabirds may reflect exposure from other areas. This study highlights the potential problem of comparing spatial trends by using means and confidence intervals as compared to simultaneous statistical analysis of raw data. Differences in the spatial trends of OCs between trophic levels in the Arctic are important for consideration when assessing regional differences in spatial and temporal trends of discontinued and current-use contaminants.     

Influence of chemical and biological factors on trophic transfer of persistent organic pollutants in the northwater polynya marine food web

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and stable isotopes of nitrogen (delta 15N) were measured in zooplankton (6 species), a benthic invertebrate (Anonyx nugax), Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), seabirds (6 species), and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) collected in 1998 in the Northwater Polynya to examine effects of biological and chemical factors on trophic transfer of POPs in an Arctic marine food web. Strong positive relationships were found between recalcitrant POP concentrations (lipid corrected) and trophic level based on stable isotopes of nitrogen, providing clear evidence of POP biomagnification in Arctic marine food webs. Food web magnification factors (FWMFs), derived from the slope of the POP--trophic level relationship, provided an overall magnification factor for the food web but over and underestimated biomagnification factors (BMFs) based on predator--prey concentrations in poikilotherms (fish) and homeotherms (seabirds and mammals), respectively. Greater biomagnification in homeotherms was attributed to their greater energy requirement and subsequent feeding rates. Within the homeotherms, seabirds had greater BMFs than ringed seals, consistent with greater energy demands in birds. Scavenging from marine mammal carcasses and accumulation in more contaminated winter habitats were considered important variables in seabird BMFs. Metabolic differences between species resulted in lower than expected BMFs, which would not be recognized in whole food web trophic level--POP relationships. The use of sigma POP groups, such as sigma PCB, is problematic because FWMFs and BMFs varied considerably between individual POPs. FWMFs of recalcitrant POPs had a strong positive relationship with log octanol--water partition coefficient (Kow). Results of this study show the utility of using delta 15N to characterize trophic level and trophic transfer of POPs but highlight the effects of species and chemical differences on trophic transfer of POPs that can be overlooked when a single magnification factor is applied to an entire food web.     

Total and inorganic arsenic in fish samples from Norwegian waters

The contents of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic were determined in fillet samples of Northeast Artic cod, herring, mackerel, Greenland halibut, tusk, saithe and Atlantic halibut. In total, 923 individual fish samples were analysed. The fish were mostly caught in the open sea off the coast of Norway, from 40 positions. The determination of total arsenic was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry following microwave-assisted wet digestion. The determination of inorganic arsenic was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography–ICP-MS following microwave-assisted dissolution of the samples. The concentrations found for total arsenic varied greatly between fish species, and ranged from 0.3 to 110?mg?kg^–1 wet weight. For inorganic arsenic, the concentrations found were very low (<0.006?mg?kg^–1) in all cases. The obtained results question the assumptions made by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the inorganic arsenic level in fish used in the recent EFSA opinion on arsenic in food.     

Persistent organic pollutants in two dolphin species with focus on toxaphene and polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Assessing trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine mammals is difficult due to age, gender, and metabolism influences on accumulation. To help elucidate these effects in dolphins, POP concentrations were determined in the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus, a pelagic delphinid inhabiting North Atlantic waters, and in the rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis, a pelagic delphinid inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters. The specific objectives of this study were to determine baseline POP concentrations in L. acutus and S. bredanensis blubber samples and to examine the effects of age, gender, and metabolism on POP concentrations in dolphin blubber. Focus was aimed at contaminants of emerging concern, specifically, toxaphene and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Samples collected from L. acutus (n = 47) stranding events in Massachusetts (1993--2000) and S. bredanensis samples (n = 15) were analyzed for PCBs, toxaphene, and other organic pesticides by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Age and gender influences were similar between the two species, with adult females having significantly lower POP concentrations as compared to adult males and juveniles. Mean sigma toxaphene concentrations were highest in juvenile L. acutus, 13.0 (6.7) microg/g wet mass (1 SD), and lowest in adult female S. bredanensis, 1.49 (1.4) microg/g wet mass. sigma PBDE (sum of congeners 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154) concentrations were highest in juvenile L. acutus, 2.41 (1.2) microg/g wet mass, and lowest in adult female S. bredanensis, 0.51 (0.6) microg/g wet mass. POP concentrations did not significantly differ between adult males and juveniles, suggesting metabolism of congeners and/or dilution with growth. PBDE concentrations in juvenile white-sided dolphins were not significantly related to collection year, suggesting that there may be a lag period for higher concentrations to be detected in pelagic marine mammals such as L. acutus or that concentrations have already peaked in this species prior to the first collection in 1993.     

Has the burden and distribution of PCBs and PBDEs changed in European background soils between 1998 and 2008? Implications for sources and processes

Background soils were collected from 70 locations on a latitudinal transect in the United Kingdom and Norway in 2008, ten years after they had first been sampled in 1998. The soils were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCs), to see whether there had been any change in the loadings or distributions of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The same transect has also been used to sample air between the mid-1990s and the present, so the air and soil spatial and temporal trends provide information on air-soil transfers, source-receptor relationships, long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT), and recycling phenomena. Comparisons of the 2008 and 1998 data sets show a general decline for PBDEs in surface soil, and a smaller averaged net decline of PCBs. Changes between the years were observed for total POP concentrations in soil and also for correlations with site and sample characteristics assumed to affect those concentrations. POP concentrations were correlated to distance and strength of possible sources, a relationship that became weaker in the 2008 data. Fractionation, a commonly discussed process for the global cycling of POPs was also lost in the 2008 data. As in 1998, soil organic matter content continues to have a strong influence on the loadings of POPs in surface soils, but changes in the PCB loads were noted. These factors indicate an approach to air-surface soil equilibrium and a lessening of the influence of primary sources on POP concentrations in soil between 1998 and 2008.     

An investigation into consumer preferences for nine fresh white fish species and the sensory attributes which determine acceptability

Nine fresh white fish species (cod, haddock, whiting, blue whiting, ling, saithe, lemon sole, plaice, dab) were investigated by sensory panels. Assessors could distinguish between species and although they would express relative preferences, they did not feel very strongly about them. Flavour was the most significant positive determinant of acceptability, texture was neutral and appearance was either neutral or negative. It is probable that most fresh white fish could be satisfactorily interchanged with one another without causing adverse consumer reaction.     

Aluminium levels of fish fillets baked and grilled in aluminium foil

During storage and preparation of food, aluminium foil is often used for wrapping heat-sensitive raw food for protection against direct heat, e.g. grilled or baked fish fillets. In this investigation the aluminium contents of grilled and baked fish fillets with and without ingredients wrapped in aluminium foil were determined. The selected fish species were mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.), a fatty species, ocean perch (Sebastes spp.), a medium fatty species, and cod (Gadus morhua) and saithe (Pollachius virens), two lean fish species. The wrapped fillets were baked for approximately 20 min at 200°C in an oven, either without ingredients or, alternatively, with vinegar and sodium chloride added. In another experiment one part of a fillet was grilled over charcoal without ingredients and the other part was grilled with onion rings and mixed spices added. All aluminium concentrations of both baked and grilled fillets wrapped in aluminium foil increased during heating. The increase in aluminium concentration ranged from a factor of 2 (baked saithe fillets without ingredients from 0.10 up to 0.21 mg/kg) to a factor of 68 (grilled mackerel fillets with ingredients from 0.07 up to 5.04 mg/kg). The aluminium contents of grilled fillets were higher than those of baked fillets. Presumably two factors were responsible for the higher aluminium contents in grilled fillets: first the higher temperature of preparation when grilling fillets and second the high aluminium content of mixed spices (63.5 mg Al/kg), which may be taken up in part by the grilled fillets. All results clearly showed that some aluminium migrated from the aluminium foil into the food. The aluminium migration seems to depend on several factors, e.g. the duration and the temperature of heating, the composition and the pH-value of food, the presence of any other substances (such as organic acids and salt) and complexing reactions that result in dissolution of the complexed metal. Considering the present state of knowledge and the suggested provisional tolerable daily intake of 1 mg Al/kg bodyweight per day of the [World Health Organisation, 1989], no risk to health of the consumer would to be expected from eating meals prepared in aluminium foil.     

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in animals representing different trophic levels of the North Sea food Web

The levels of individual PBDE congeners were investigated in the invertebrate species whelk (Buccinum undatum), seastar (Asterias rubens), and hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus), the gadoid fish species whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and cod (Gadus morhua), and the marine mammal species harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). These species are all important representatives of different trophic levels of the North Sea food web. All six major PBDE congeners detected (BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154) are most prevalent in the commercial Penta-BDE formulation. There is no evidence for the occurrence of the Octa-BDE formulation in the North Sea food web, since its dominant congener, BDE183, was never detected. BDE209, the main congener (> 97%) in the Deca-BDE formulation, was detected only in a minority of the samples and always in concentrations around the limit of detection. Since BDE209 is often the major BDE congener in sediments from the area, the main reason for its low concentrations in biota from the North Sea seems to be a relatively low bioaccumulation potential. This can either be due to a low uptake rate of the very large molecule or a relatively rapid excretion after biotransformation. Since all invertebrates investigated are sentinel species, they are highly representative for the area of capture. The highest lipid-normalized concentrations of PBDEs in the invertebrates occurred near the mouth of the river Tees at the East coast of the UK. The geographical distribution of the PBDEs can be explained by the residual currents in the area. The direction of these currents differs between the summer and the winter season as a result of the presence or absence of vertical summer stratification of the deeper waters north of the Dogger Bank. Summer stratification results in the development of a density-driven bottom water current formed after the onset of vertical stratification of the water column in May leaving the UK coast near Flamborough Head toward the Dogger Bank. In winter, the residual currents run in a more southerly direction and follow the UK coastline. The distribution pattern of the PCBs and p,p'-DDE in the invertebrates was entirely different from that of the PBDEs, which could be expected, since the use of these organochlorines in western Europe peaked in the 1960s and 1970s but has been forbidden more than two decades ago, whereas the production and use of the penta-BDE formulation is of a more recent origin. The higher trophic levels of the North Sea food web were represented by the predatory gadoid fish species whiting and cod and the marine mammal species harbor seal and harbor porpoise. The lipid-normalized levels of the six major PBDE congeners in fish were similar to the levels in the invertebrates, but a biomagnification step in concentrations of generally more than an order of magnitude occurred from gadoid fish to marine mammals. Based on the limited number of samples, no differences could be observed between harbor seal and harbor porpoise. In summary, the results in three species of sentinel invertebrates from a network of stations covering a major part of the North Sea basin showed that the estuary of the river Tees at the UK East coast is a major source for tri- to hexa-PBDEs. Throughout the food-chain, the most marked increase in (lipid-normalized) levels of all six PBDE congeners occurred from predatory (gadoid) fish to marine mammals, agreeing with the transition from gill-breathing to lung-breathing animals. This has serious consequences for the route of elimination of POPs, since their elimination from the blood into the ambient seawater via the gill-membrane is no longer possible.     

An enzymic method for differentiating thawed and fresh fish fillets

The specific activities of the lysosomal enzymes α-glucosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase were determined in press juices and extracts from fresh and frozen/thawed fillets of cod, saithe, red fish and haddock. For each of the two enzymes it was found that the press juice/extract activity ratio increased following the freezing/thawing process (six to nine times for αglucosidase and three to five times for β-N-acetylglucosaminidase).     

PUFAs in Fish: Extraction,Fractionation, Importance in Health

ABSTRACT: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are currently in demand in the pure form and actively being studied to understand their potential roles in human health. Arachidonic acid, 20:4 (n‐6), and DHA, 22:6 (n‐3), are important in normal neurodevelopment and visual function. Infants fed formula often have low blood lipid 20:4 (n‐6) and 22:6 (n‐3). Consumption of fish oils may increase the 20:5 (n‐3) (EPA) and 22:6 (n‐3) (DHA) in human blood. Some marine fish oils contain higher amounts of arachidonic acid, EPA, and DHA. PUFA contents in different marine fishes and methods for their extraction and fractionation, in terms of fatty acid constituents in the form of methyl esters, are covered in this review. Emphasis is given to the fractionations of EPA and DHA by means of supercritical fluid extractions (SFE). The advantages of SFE compared to conventional methods are discussed in this review. PUFAs are usually extracted at about 10 to 30 MPa and at 40 to 80 °C. SFE is a promising and currently the best technique to extract PUFAs, especially EPA and DHA, from marine and freshwater fish.     

Spatial and temporal trends of POPs in Norwegian and UK background air: implications for global cycling

Data are presented for PCBs and HCB measured by passive air samplers (SPMDs) along a latitudinal transect from the south of the UK to the north of Norway during 1998-2000. This work is part of an ongoing air sampling campaign in which data were previously gathered for 1994-1996. Comparisons of the masses of chemicals sequestered by the SPMDs during these different time intervals are used to investigate spatial and temporal trends. Results are discussed in the context of sources, long-range atmospheric transport, fractionation/cold condensation, and global clearance processes controlling ambient levels of POPs. Spatial trends show a decrease in absolute sequestered amounts of PCBs with increasing latitude i.e., with increasing distance from the source area. However, relative sequestered amounts of the homologue groups (expressed as a ratio to penta-PCB) show a clear latitudinal trend, with the relative contribution of the lighter congeners increasing with increasing latitude, providing evidence of latitudinal fractionation. Absolute amounts of HCB increase with latitude, suggesting this compound is undergoing cold condensation. Sequestered amounts of PCBs generally decreased between the two sampling periods by a factor 2-5 over 4 years, suggesting half-lives on the order of 1.7-4 years. The relative rates of decline (1998-2000 data as a percentage of the 1994-1996 data) were compared for different congeners and latitudes. No clear latitudinal trends were found, with all sites/congeners showing a similar marked decline over time to ca. 30% of the former value. We discuss the interpretation of these observations and conclude they imply that the underlying trends of current ambient levels of PCBs in European background air are still largely controlled by primary emissions, rather than recycling/secondary emissions from the major environmental repositories such as soils or water bodies.     

Development of a novel,fermented and dried saithe and salmon product

The northern European dry-cured meat sausage technique was used to produce a fermented and dried product from fish with a high content of polyunsaturated (PUFA) omega-3 fatty acids. Different ratios of salmon (the fatty fish) and saithe (the lean fish) with or without milk protein-based ingredients were fermented with Lactobacillus sakei. Since marine oils are liquid, even at low temperatures, a sliceable and acceptable firm texture without oil leakage could only be obtained by the use of a protein content at least 2.4 times higher than the fat content of the recipe. The product made from only salmon and saithe with 7.5% fat gave fewer and larger oil particles compared to a product where also milk protein was added.Industrial relevanceFish is generally considered to contain many compounds that are beneficial to health; however, many people eat little or no fish. To increase the fish intake, the development of new, convenient fish products that are easy to use and eat, is desirable. By use of the northern European dry-cured meat sausages technology a new kind of fermented, smoked, and dried fish product resembling a firm and sliceable dry-cured meat sausage was produced.     

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) and cod (Gadus morhua) from arctic fishing grounds of Svalbard

ABSTRACT

The present study gives an overview about the concentration of PFAS in liver, fillet and belly flap of beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) and cod (Gadus morhua) caught in pristine arctic fishing grounds of Svalbard. Out of 17 analysed substances, only six perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) could be detected in the fish. The most frequently quantified substances were PFOS and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) in liver (100%) and fillet (at least 40% and 70%, respectively) of beaked redfish and cod, and in belly flap of beaked redfish (100%). Compared to cod, beaked redfish showed significant higher PFAA concentrations with highest levels in liver. Multiple comparisons of group differences for PFAA concentrations among fish species and matrices were independent of the evaluation method, but not for the PFAA-pattern analysis. The risk assessment of PFOS indicated that beaked redfish and cod caught in the Barents Sea can be a relevant exposure source for consumers.