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Monitoring of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs and seasonal variations in mussels from the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy)

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Abstract

The levels and specific profiles of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo of Taranto were determined during the extensive monitoring plan of Local Health Authority to assess PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs contamination in food and farm products, within 20 km from the industrial areas of Taranto, between March and December 2011. The average Total Toxicity Equivalence (TEQ) values for the sum of PCDD/F and DL-PCBs ranged from 1.61 to 5.63 pg WHO2005-TEQ g−1 wet weight basis, with the highest in the first inlet of the Mar Piccolo. In particular, DL-PCBs were the dominant chemicals in all samples, followed by PCDFs and PCDDs. Congener patterns in mussels were similar, indicating a homogeneous behavior in studied areas and, probably, the same type of source. The seasonal concentrations trend showed a relevant increase of dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs TEQs during the summer months, exceeding the limits set by the European Community for food and foodstuff. Reducing PCDD/Fs and PCBs is necessary to decrease contamination levels in order to safeguard marine ecosystem and human health in the Taranto area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Operative Unit of Taranto, C.N.R., via Roma 3, 74123, Taranto, Italy

    Antonella Di Leo, Cristina Annicchiarico, Nicola Cardellicchio, Santina Giandomenico & Lucia Spada

  2. Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority of Taranto, C.da Rondinella, 74123, Taranto, Italy

    Michele Conversano, Giacomo Castellano, Fabrizio Basile & Walter Martinelli

  3. National Reference Laboratory for Dioxins and PCBs in Food and Feed, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, Via campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy

    Giampiero Scortichini

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  1. Antonella Di Leo
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  2. Cristina Annicchiarico
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  3. Nicola Cardellicchio
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  4. Santina Giandomenico
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  5. Michele Conversano
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  6. Giacomo Castellano
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  7. Fabrizio Basile
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  9. Giampiero Scortichini
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  10. Lucia Spada
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Correspondence to Santina Giandomenico.

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Di Leo, A., Annicchiarico, C., Cardellicchio, N. et al. Monitoring of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs and seasonal variations in mussels from the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy). Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 13196–13207 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2495-6

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