Monitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Levels in Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Aquaculture Farms in Central Macedonia Region, Greece, Using Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method.

A new sensitive and selective gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed for the analysis of 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 15 + 1 European Union (EU) PAHs, in mussel samples from aquaculture farms in Thermaikos and Strymonian Gulf, Central Macedonia Region, in three sampling periods. Concentrations were found at moderate to low values at all sampling sites, without exceeding maximum levels set by EU. Low molecular weight PAHs were predominant in all samples. Seasonal variation of the concentrations was observed; values were slightly higher in the winter period. Use of diagnostic ratios for potential sources of PAHs showed both petrogenic and pyrolitic origin. In comparison to other related studies of mussels from the Mediterranean Sea, Greek mussels cultivated in the studied gulfs are low in contaminants due to minimal environmental pollution effects. Low concentrations of PAHs are in compliance with the low values of other POPs which were found in the mussels.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and trace elements dietary intake in inhabitants of Athens, Greece, based on a duplicate portion study.

Concentration levels of 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 20 trace elements were measured in dietary samples, in order to estimate the dietary intake and the potential exposure risk of the Greek population. Dietary samples were collected with the help of 30 volunteers inhabitants of Athens, Greece, according to the duplicate portion study (DPS) method where the determination of the compounds is conducted in the final consumed meal. DPS was selected as an alternative to a total diet study for its feasibility, low cost and realistic image that it provides. PAHs determination was performed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and trace elements determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The estimated mean daily dietary exposure on 26 PAHs for an adult was estimated at 101.47 ng kg-1 body weight day-1, while moderate to low exposure was related to the type and amount of food consumed. Exposure levels to PAHs do not indicate a possible risk for the health of the study group. For toxic, potentially essential and/or essential trace elements the daily exposure calculated for Greek population was in accordance with the reference values of the health-based guidances and compared to previous diet studies reported for the population of other countries was in general similar to the lower bound exposure.