Title: Control analysis of eel using CALUX and GC/MS

Auteur(s): Hoogenboom R ; Traag W ; Hoogerbrugge R ; Baumann B ; De Vries J ;  ; 

Year: 2001

Journal: Organohalogen Compounds

Subject(s): CALUX ; dioxins ; dioxin ; PCBs ; PCB ; TEQ ; bioassay ;  ; 

Summary: A recent study by the RIVO in fish sampled at the Dutch market, revealed that in particular wild eel may contain high levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. Average level in five samples of wild fresh water eel was 19.0 TEQ pg/g (range 8.7-36.7), as compared to 7.5 pg TEQ/g (range 3.9-10.7) for 4 samples of farmed eel. A risk evaluation resulted in a consumption advice to eat fresh water eel no more than once a week, followed by a temporary limit in eel of 8 pg TEQ dioxins per gram fish. Dioxin-like PCBs were not included regarding a lack of validated and accreditated methods. However, the consequences of the limit were evaluated based on total TEQ, using a ratio of total TEQ to dioxin TEQ of 5.5, established from the 9 samples measured in the RIVO study. Assuming an average consumption of 50 gram eel per week, it was estimated that the maximum intake of dioxins and PCBs from eel would be 4.8 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day, on top of an average intake of 1.8 pg TEQ/kg body weight per day from other sources. It was considered that the actual intake will be much lower since in general the consumption of eel by the average consumer has been shown to be much lower, and since the average eel (including 90% of farmed eel) will contain much lower levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. Following the establishment of a residue limit, a control programme for eel was started, based on screening with the CALUX bioassay and confirmation of samples suspected to exceed the limit of 8 pg TEQ/g by GC/MS. In order to evaluate the possible use of the 7 indicator PCBs for screening, samples were analysed for these compounds.