Comparison of PAH Levels Between Wild Fish and Farmed Fish.

Several studies have reported elevated levels of environmental pollutants in farmed fish. These include chemicals that are potentially hazardous to the consumer such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).Mullus barbatus were captured off the Sicilian Channel in an uncontaminated area. The fishes Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata were reared on a farm off the Sicily coast. PAHs were analyzed in 5 g of fish sample, extracted by sonication with organic solution 50:50 of dichloromethane and acetone, purified by C18 SPE and analyzed by HPLC UV-FL. We compared the levels of PAHs in wild fish and in farmed fish. The average of 16 PAHs is as follows: 26.47 ppb in M. barbatus (minimum 4.03–maximum 137.91), 23.59 ppb in S. aurata (minimum 10.08–maximum 49.85), and 37.61 ppb in D. labrax (minimum 5.07–maximum 81.61).PAHs concentration in M. barbatus and S. aurata is similar, whereas the levels found in D. labrax are significantly greater. The contamination of farmed fish also certainly depends on quality of feed, because the main ingredients, such as fish oil and fish meal, are considered the main source of persistent organic pollutants. However, there are no sufficient data in literature to compare the contamination of PAHs for 16 analytes in M. barbatus. There are no regulatory reference limits for fishing food. Although these pollutants are dangerous to human health, we must not forget that aquaculture is a vital opportunity to provide food supplies to the world's population, especially for a greater diversification of the diet, not only for the benefit of the poorest countries, but also to support the consumption of industrialized countries, given the steady depauperation of natural fish stocks.