Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible aquatic species of two Asian countries: Congener profiles, biomagnification, and human risk assessment

Abstract

Seventy-five contaminants including chlorinated/brominated/parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Cl/Br/PAHs) were investigated in 29 edible aquatic species from the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka and 10 species from the Pacific Ocean near Japan. Concentrations of total ClPAHs and BrPAHs in the samples were 2.6-57 and 0.30-9.5 ng/g-dry weight from the Indian Ocean, and 0.35-18 and 0.03-3.3 ng/g-dry weight from the Pacific Ocean, respectively. Comparing the profiles of Cl/BrPAHs among the samples, congeners of chlorinated and brominated pyrene were predominant components and enhanced the potential for biomagnification in the sample from the off-shore pelagic environment in the Indian Ocean. The incremental lifetime cancer risks estimated by intake of the targets in consuming aquatic organisms showed that approximately one-third of studied organisms exceeded the acceptable risk level for Sri Lankans.

Keywords: Biomagnification; Edible aquatic species; Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Health risk; Indian Ocean; Pacific Ocean.