PCB contamination in fish community from the Gironde Estuary (France): Blast from the past N. Bodin a,b , N. Tapie a , K. Le Ménach a , E. Chassot b , P. Elie c , E. Rochard c , H. Budzinski a,⇑ a CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC, Université Bordeaux 1, F-33400 Talence, France b IRD, UMR 212 EME, BP 570, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles c IRSTEA, 50 Avenue de Verdun Gazinet, 33612 Cestas, France highlights  The PCB contamination of fish from the Gironde Estuary (France) was investigated.  PCB distribution differed between lean, low-fat and high-fat species.  A process of biomagnification was observed in the Gironde estuarine fish assemblage.  Health concerns about fish flesh contamination were revealed. article info Article history: Received 2 February 2013 Received in revised form 24 September 2013 Accepted 1 October 2013 Available online xxxx Keywords: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Fish assemblage Bioindicators Biomagnification Food safety abstract The contamination of the Gironde Estuary, southwest of France, by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was assessed using six fish of high ecological and economic importance as bioindicator species. The concen- trations of 21 PCB congeners and total fat contents were determined in the muscle and liver of eels (Anguilla anguilla), seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), flounders (Platichthys flesus), meagres (Argyrosomus regius), mullets (Liza ramada), and soles (Solea vulgaris). In addition, information regarding the trophic ecology of the studied fish was obtained through the analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable iso- topes (i.e., d 13 C and d 15 N) in muscle. Results revealed high PCB concentrations in fish compared to mon- itored European estuaries. The muscle of eels was by far the most contaminated fish flesh (R 7 PCBs = 1000 ± 440 ng g 1 on a dry weight basis), while the higher PCB concentrations in liver were measured in flounder (R 7 PCBs = 2040 ± 1160 ng g 1 d.w.). A quantile regression approach allowed to investigate the fate of PCBs in the Gironde estuarine fish assemblage, and revealed a general process of trophic magnification. Finally, most of the analysed fish presented PCB concentrations in muscle meat above the current European maximum limits for sea products, while the derived ‘‘Toxic Equivalent Quan- tity’’ (TEQ) revealed human health concerns only for high-fat fish consumption. Ó 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. 1. Introduction First produced in the late 19th century, polychlorinated biphe- nyls (PCBs) were extensively used worldwide. Widespread concern about PCBs began in the early 1960s, when traces of these chemi- cals began showing up in soil, water and biota (Jensen, 1966). The characteristics that made PCBs ideal in industrial and domestic applications – their persistency – raised issues about their fate into the environment. Furthermore, their lipophilic nature and resis- tance to metabolism enable PCBs to bioaccumulate in organisms leading to adverse effects (Carpenter, 2006). In response to the environmental and human health concerns over PCBs, these chem- icals have been banned in most developed countries in the 1970s (UNEP, 2003). In France, a first order (1975) limiting PCB use to closed systems was complemented in 1987 (Decree 44 n°87–59) banning their manufacture and use. Since 1996, the European Un- ion members have been bound to draw up an action plan for the decontamination and elimination of PCB-containing equipments (Directive 96/59/CE). Despite these regulations, the extensive and careless use of these chlorinated technical mixtures during almost 50 years has resulted in the contamination of the environment and to a legacy chronic pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in France. As final receptacles to chemical pollution, most of the French rivers and estuaries and their associated fisheries resources have to be urgently and routinely monitored for PCB contamina- tion (République Française, 2008). The Gironde Estuary, located southwest of France, is one of the richest European estuaries, providing habitats and nurseries for a 0045-6535/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.003 ⇑ Corresponding author at: CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC, Université Bordeaux 1, F-33400 Talence, France. Tel.: +33 (0)5 40 00 69 98; fax: +33 (0)5 40 00 22 67. E-mail address: h.budzinski@epoc.u-bordeaux1.fr (H. Budzinski). Chemosphere xxx (2013) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Chemosphere journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/chemosphere Please cite this article in press as: Bodin, N., et al. PCB contamination in fish community from the Gironde Estuary (France): Blast from the past. Chemo- sphere (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.003