Levels of chemicals in two fish species from four Italian fishing areas

This paper reports the results of an assessment of contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in two demersal species of commercial importance. The organisms considered were Mullus barbatus and Engraulis encrasicolus from three marine areas off the Italian coasts: North and South Adriatic Sea and North Tyrrhenian Sea. The instrumental analyzes have revealed, in many samples examined, the presence of most of PCB congeners and 5 of the 16 PAHs considered. Organisms caught in the waters of Apulia have greater contamination values, while the samples from Tuscany showed the lowest ones, results probably referable to the environmental quality differences between the areas of origin, at least for PAHs, since the sampling areas are represented respectively by areas with presence of oil extraction plant (Adriatic), and by an area subject to environmental protection. •PCBs and PAHs contamination assessed in two species of commercial importance.•The bioindicators considered were Mullus barbatus and Engraulis encrasicolus.•Samples from North and South Adriatic Sea and North Tyrrhenian Sea•Presence of most of PCB congeners and 5 of the 16 PAHs considered in liver samples•Samples from Apulia were more contaminated, lowest values from Tuscany.