Alkylphenolic compounds in edible molluscs of the Adriatic Sea (Italy)

This paper reports the first group of results on alkylphenol (APE) contamin ation of seafood in the Adriatic Sea, in the framework of a national projec t on the quality of this Sea (PRISMA 2). Nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP) , and their ethoxylates (NPE and OPE) were detected in edible molluscs, eit her filter feeders or predators (clams, mussels, cuttlefishes, and squids), caught from 15 harbors along the Italian coast in the Adriatic Sea in 1997 . NP was the compound found always at levels much higher than the other APE S in all the examined species. It reached the maximum concentration of 696 ng/g fresh weight in the squids from the central Adriatic Sea. OP generally occurred at levels 30 times lower than NP. OP was found up to a level of 1 8.6 ng/g in squids from central Adriatic Sea. OPE was the compound always s potted at the lowest concentrations, up to 0.43 ng/g. NPE was always below the detection limit. The pattern of contamination in the three areas examin ed was different between bivalve and cephalopod species. No exhaustive risk assessment for marine organisms and human health can be conducted on the b asis of these results because data are insufficient. Yet, the occurrence of NP suggests a negligible risk for mussels, which represent the only mollus cs for which data are adequate. As to the possible human health implication s, the consumption of molluscs of the Adriatic Sea implies APE intakes that are some orders of magnitude lower than those responsible for toxic effect s in laboratory animals. Despite these apparently low risks for mussels and human health, the reasons for concern still remain because the levels of a lkylphenols found in this study indicate a general contamination of the Adr iatic Sea even far from the cost. Furthermore, these levels might represent an unacceptable hazard for other marine organisms, Finally, they contribut e to the general environmental estrogen pool.