Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the seafood from an important fishing area in the East China Sea and a comparison between seafood from different origins

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in a variety of coastal marine seafood from the Wentai fishing area, which is in proximity to highly urbanized areas and provides a significant portion of the marine aquatic products in Eastern China. Specifically, total PAHs ranged from 320 to 2500 ng/g d.w., whereas carcinogenic PAHs ranged from 21 to 92 ng/g d.w. According to the source diagnosis, the PAHs in the seafood were generally from sources highly related to fossil fuel. Thus, it is necessary to control the unintentional use of fossil fuels and optimize the energy structure in the terrestrial area nearby. Moreover, the food chain structure and the environmental behavior of PAHs through the food chain, which are relevant to dietary risk, were assessed. The delta N-15 values fell in a narrow range, which indicates a relatively short food chain, which is due to overfishing in this area. Furthermore, in this shortened food chain, the trophic magnification factors (TMFs) ranged from 0.23 to 6.6, which were generally higher than those in more complex food chains. The cancer risk (ILCR) ranged from 2.2 x 10(-8) to 2.2 x 10(-6). It is noted that the carcinogenic risk of consuming yellow croaker, which is one of the most popular seafood among people on the east coast of China, was the highest. In conclusion, trophic magnification implied a possible elevated risk through this marine food chain, and overfishing may have increased the uncertainty associated with TMF estimations.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the levels of PAHs in various coastal marine seafood in the Wentai fishing area and identified the sources of these PAHs. The results showed that the PAHs in the seafood were mainly derived from fossil fuel sources. The study also assessed the behavior of PAHs in the food chain and their association with dietary risk. It was found that the area had a relatively short food chain and higher trophic magnification factors. The highest carcinogenic risk was associated with consuming yellow croaker. Therefore, it is necessary to control the unintentional use of fossil fuels and optimize the energy structure in the nearby terrestrial area to reduce dietary risk.