Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3)
Analysis of persistent organic pollutants in fish and assessment of their bioaccumulation in living organisms
Kursty James Ricardo Panpadoo University of Mauritius, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry k.panpadoo@uom.ac.mu
Extraction and Analysis of POPs. Four different methods of extractions were carried out on a spiked fish sample with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in order to select the extraction method which yielded the highest recoveries. The methods were liquid-liquid extraction, maceration and filtration, Soxhlet extraction and accelerated solvent extraction. The latter yielded the highest recoveries for the POPs. Cleanup processes of fat extracts were done using alumina and magnesium silicate. Then the levels of POPs including DDT and metabolites, gamma lindane, hexachlorobenzene, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin and methoxychlor were analysed in freshly caught fish samples collected at different locations in Mauritius namely Poudre d’or, Trou d’eau douce, Case noyale and Mahebourg. The analyses of POPs were conducted quantitatively using a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry in Single Ion Monitoring mode. The concentration of POPs were calculated on a wet weight basis and the following were observed: aldrin levels ranged between 1.73ug/kg and 2.30ug/kg, heptachlor levels was between 1.04 ug/kg and 2.66 ug/kg, Hexachlorobenzene levels were from 1.59 ug/kg to 3.33 ug/kg, DDT and metabolites levels ranged from 2.82ug/kg to 9.55 ug/kg. Finally methoxychlor was only observed in one sample at a concentration of 8.04 ug/kg while gamma lindane and dieldrin were not detected in the samples. A high positive correlation was seen between the weight of the samples and the amount of DDT and metabolites confirming bioaccumulation along the food chain. The amount of POPs obtained in the local fish samples were compared with the United States regulations and they were below the limits. References 1. Harris, D.C. and Lucy, C.A. (2016) Quantitative Chemical Analysis. 9th Edition, W.H. Freeman & Company, New York, NY. 2. U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Taken 2008-05-17 from http://www.epa.gov/international/toxics/pop. htm#affect). 3. UNEP, 2003, Global Report 2003-Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances, Geneva Switzerland
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