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Spatial variations and temporal trends between 1994 and 2005 in polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in Flanders, Belgium
Maes, J.; Belpaire, C.; Goemans, G. (2008). Spatial variations and temporal trends between 1994 and 2005 in polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in Flanders, Belgium. Environ. Pollut. 153(1): 223-237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2007.07.021
In: Environmental Pollution. Elsevier: Barking. ISSN 0269-7491; e-ISSN 1873-6424
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 134126 [ download pdf ]

Keywords
    Biological techniques > Techniques > Quantitative techniques > Optimization > Optimization methods > Models > Mathematical models > Linear models
    Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Hydrocarbons > Unsaturated hydrocarbons > Aromatic hydrocarbons > PCB
    Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals
    Chemicals > Organic compounds > Organic halogen compounds > Halogenated hydrocarbons > Organochlorine compounds > Chlorinated hydrocarbons > Toxic substances > Polychlorinated biphenyls
    Chemistry > Chemicals > Organic compounds > Organic halogen compounds > Organochlorine compounds > Pesticides > Organochlorine pesticides
    Elements > Metals > Metallic elements > Heavy metals
    Food > Human food
    Pesticides
    Spatial variations
    Temporal variations
    Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
    Belgium, Flanders [Marine Regions]
    Brackish water; Fresh water
Author keywords
    Anguilla anguilla; heavy metals; organochlorine pesticides;polychlorinated biphenyls; linear mixed model

Authors  Top 
  • Maes, J.
  • Belpaire, C.
  • Goemans, G.

Abstract
    In Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, European yellow eel muscle tissue was used as an indicator of environmental and potential human dietary exposure by hazardous chemicals of surface waters and sediments. Between 1994 and 2005, over 2800 eel captured at 365 stations were analysed for PCBs, pesticides and heavy metals. Contamination of eel in Flanders fell within the range of reported concentrations in other watersheds of Western Europe. A spatial analysis of the data demonstrated that the variation in pollutant concentration tended towards higher values. This was especially evident for PCBs, lindane, endrin, dieldrin and DDE. The concentration of almost all banned substances decreased significantly during the study period. Although tissue concentrations of PCBs, pesticides and heavy metals decreased over time, they remain sufficiently high for the consumption of wild captured eel to still be discouraged.

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