A baseline evaluation of PAH body burden in sardines from the southern Brazilian shelf

The concentrations of 37 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their potential risk to human health were determined in fifty sardine muscle (Sardinella brasiliensis) samples collected along the southern Brazilian shelf. Parental and alkylated PAHs were identified and quantified using a pressurized liquid extraction with in-cell purification method and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry identification and quantification. The concentrations of Σ37 PAHs in muscle ranged between 6.02 and 4074 μg kg−1 wet weight, which are comparable to levels reported for commercially important fish worldwide. The most abundant compounds were pyrene and fluoranthene, which originate from both petrogenic and pyrolytic hydrocarbon inputs. In only 4% of the samples the benzo[a] pyrene equivalent concentration was above the threshold of 6 μg kg−1 suggested for safe fish consumption in Brazil. These findings will serve as baseline data for monitoring the quality of sardines consumed in the country and for studying fish populations. •PAHs body burden was assessed in sardines from southern Brazil for the first time.•The sardine muscles showed low PAHs levels, similar to other commercial fishes worldwide.•The data represent a baseline of PAH contamination to be monitored in the following years.