Persistent Organic Pollutants Burden, Trophic Magnification and Risk in a Pelagic Food Web from Coastal NW Mediterranean Sea

The storage capacity, trophic magnification and risk of sixty-two POPs have been evaluated in a well-characterized pelagic food web (including phytoplankton, zooplankton, six fish, two cephalopods species) from an impacted area NW Mediterranean Sea. Our results show the high capacity planktonic compartment for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), consistent with their estimated low factors (TMF) 0.2-2.0 0.3-1.1 (PCDD/Fs). ∑PBDEs dominated zooplankton size-class 200-1000 μm (∼330 ng g-1 lw, median), whereas ∑PCDD/Fs accumulated preferentially phytoplankton 0.7-200 (875 pg median). In contrast, biphenyls (PCBs) were bioaccumulated higher levels (six fish species cephalopods) TMFs = 0.8-3.9, reaching median concentrations 4270 3140 lw (∑PCBs) Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) chub mackerel (Scomber colias), respectively. For these edible species, weekly intakes dioxin-like humans based on national consumption standards overpassed EU tolerable intake. Moreover, nondioxin-like PCBs S. sarda above maximum foodstuffs, pointing to risk. No evidence was found due all other studied, neither PBDEs. integrated burden reached ∼18 μg representing dynamic stock toxic organic chemicals study area. We that characterized could be useful comprehensive bioindicator chemical pollution status area, opening new perspectives monitoring coastal waters.