engleski

Levels of PCBs in fish and estimation of PCB intake into fishermen and their families in the Zadar area

Taking into account the location of the electrical transformer stations that were destroyed in Zadar, there is some speculation regarding the potential threat from spilled PCBs to the coastal sea around the city of Zadar. Benthic and epibenthic fish contaminated with PCBs can indicate the level of contaminants in an narrow area. Therefore, in 1997, 1999 and 2004, benthic and epibenthic fish collections were performed in the coastal water of the Zadar area for PCB and DDT analysis. Fish sampled during the spring and autumn of 1997 were collected very close to the shoreline and indicated the highest levels of PCBs in the sea near the marina. During February 1999, fish samples were collected at a distance of least 100 meters from the shoreline and the PCB levels were found to be lower in comparison to those of 1997. During the summer of 2004, the collection of annular sea bream (Diplodus annularis) was also performed. From the presented results, it is evident that the highest PCB levels were observed in fish caught at stations near the damaged textile factory (TIZ), where significant PCB levels were observed in soil samples collected in 2003 and 2004. The daily intake of PCBs into fishermen and their families (&laquo ; critical&raquo ; group of people) from Zadar area was estimated on the basis of PCB levels in fish samples (geometric mean of PCB levels) collected from the Zadar coastal area. The results show that only in case of increased consumption of fish caught from Zadar marine area (especially for child in the group 0-10 years old) the levels of PCBs are higher than the recommended mean of daily intake value (1&micro ; g/kg/day). In 2003 an investigation was provided among fishermen and their families from Zadar area in order to define more precise the daily intake of PCBs into this &laquo ; critical&raquo ; group of people. 50 families with 200 family members were interviewed about the amount of consummated fish per month from total Zadar coastal area and only from the closest town area. On the basis of PCB levels in the fish species that are most frequently consummated by the investigated families the estimation of daily intake of PCBs was established. In more than 10 cases the daily intake of PCBs is higher than the recommended mean of daily intake value. The estimated daily intake of PCBs is significantly lower in case of consuming fish from Zadar area in 2004 than in 1997. The daily intake of PCBs in case of consuming sea breams, which have mean level of PCBs like those collected in 1997 from Zadar coastal area, is higher than the acceptable level for almost entire investigated population when calculated on the basis of Zadar intake. Results of the PCB levels in the fish that are caught in the coastal area of Zadar (preformed from 1974 to 2004) were in range of acceptable level (<1ug/g). The estimated daily intake of PCBs into fishermen and their families from Zadar area are in acceptable level (0, 36 &#956; g per kg of body weight), but not to be underestimated.

PCB; intake; fish; Zadar

nije evidentirano