Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure through eel consumption in recreational fishermen as compared to the general population, using a probabilistic approach

Maaike Bilau (1) , Isabelle Sioen (2) , Christophe Matthys (2) , Alain de Vocht (3) , Geert Goemans (4) , Claude Belpaire (4) , Jan L. Willems (2) , Stefaan de Henauw (2, 5)

1 Department of Public Health
2 Department of Public Health
3 UHasselt - Hasselt University
4 INBO - Research Institute for Nature and Forest
5 Department of Health Sciences

Concentrations of the sum of the 7 indicator PCBs (Σ7 iPCBs) measured in non-commercial European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in Flanders are high. The objective was to assess the intake of the Σ7 iPCBs through eel consumption by recreational fishermen and to compare it with the intake of a background population. The median estimated intake for recreational fishermen varies between 18.4 and 237.6 ng iPCBs/kg bw/day, depending on the consumption scenario, while the estimated intake of the background population is 4.3 ng iPCBs/kg bw/day. Since the levels of intake for 2 intake scenarios are respectively 50 and 25 times higher than the intake of the background population, body burden might reach levels of toxicological relevance. The intake of the 7 iPCBs via consumption of self-caught eel in Flanders seems to be at a level of concern. The Flemish catch-and-release obligation for eel should be maintained and supervised (more) carefully.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Maaike Bilau, Isabelle Sioen, Christophe Matthys, Alain de Vocht, Geert Goemans, et al.. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure through eel consumption in recreational fishermen as compared to the general population, using a probabilistic approach. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2007, 24 (12), pp.1386-1393. ⟨10.1080/02652030701459848⟩. ⟨hal-00577468⟩