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In Brescia , a highly industrialized city in the Lombardy Region (Northern Italy) classified as a SIN (Contaminated Site of National Interest), a human biomonitoring study was carried out on breast milk of two groups of women residing in areas with presumably different levels of exposure to polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorodibenzofurans, and polychlorobiphenyls. This study was aimed at evaluating the possible difference between women living in Brescia and women living far from it but in the same Region. Between 2016 and 2018, 82 women were enrolled (41 "exposed" subjects and 41 "not exposed"), breast milk samples were collected, and a specific questionnaire was administered to the donors. Data obtained were processed by robust regression and Principal Component Factor Analysis. The differences in concentration between the two groups were significant for all the classes of analytes (except for PCDDs). The concentration increase rates from the not exposed to the exposed group resulted highly significant: some PCB congeners showed increase rates more than 1000 ng/g lb per one-unit change of the independent variable. Among the variables significantly associated with the observed concentrations, age showed the greatest influence, while BMI showed a counteracting effect. Consumption of vegetable oil and fruit resulted to possibly influence the chemicals body burden. For the not exposed group, the levels appear to be in line with the decreasing trend (2001-2018) observed for these contaminants in Italy., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial products extensively used in the past. Because of their widespread presence and toxic effects, the international community adopted control measures to reduce their release into the environment. Currently, PCB concentrations are decreasing, but humans are still exposed. In this paper, we reported the results of a study concerning PCB concentrations in human serum samples collected in Italy over two decades. The aim of the study was to investigate the trend of major determinants of PCB human exposure, several decades after the end of their production. PCB concentrations ranged over three orders of magnitude (from 0.4 to 958 ng/g lipid), with a median value of 85 ng/g lipid. We identified age, sampling year, body mass index, sex, and living near hot spots or being occupationally exposed as relevant factors in determining body burden. Our results can give indications to refine regulatory policies on PCBs in Italy, with particular attention to the disposal of residue PCB-containing products. To improve control measures can further decrease the exposure of citizens to PCBs, limit health implications, and improve citizens' perception about chemical risk management., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A number of biomonitoring investigations were carried out in Italy between 2000 and 2018 by the Unit of Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals of the Italian National Institute of Health (Rome). The investigations were characterized by different features (case-control or cross-sectional studies, participants from impacted or no impacted areas, etc), but despite the differences, it was possible to study the time trends of Σ 7 (PCDDs), Σ 10 (PCDFs), Σ 12 (DL-PCBs), and Σ 6 (NDL-PCBs) (analytical and TEQ cumulative concentrations, as appropriate). All the chemicals considered showed clear rates of a time-dependent concentration decrease, data having previously been adjusted for the sampled Region and subject age. Σ 7 (PCDDs) exhibited the fastest decrease with an average rate of -4.44 pg/g-fat year -1 (2009-2018), whereas Σ 6 (NDL-PCBs) was characterized by the slowest decrease with a rate of -0.771 ng/g-fat year -1 (2000-2018). A clear distinction between the decreasing rates of Σ 7 (PCDDs) and Σ 10 (PCDFs) was observed, as the latter decreased at half the rate of the Σ7(PCDDs). The slower rate of the Σ 10 (PCDFs) decline may be due to an ongoing source of PCDFs in the environment beyond those traditionally considered for this group of contaminants such as the production of PCDFs due to PCBs thermal conversion from matrices contaminated with PCBs. Production of PCDFs due to thermal conversion of matrices contaminated with PCBs could be an ongoing source which may be of concern because recent data have highlighted the diffusion of PCBs in the European environment. The decreasing rates of PCDDs + PCDFs, DL-PCBs, and PCDDs + PCDFs + DL-PCBs - original analytical data converted to "dioxin equivalents" - were respectively estimated as (pgTEQ/g-fat year -1 ) -2.08, -2.06, and -2.10, values exhibiting good compatibility between one another., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, present in the environment and in the human body. They have raised global concern because of their diffusion in the environment, particularly in water, causing cases of human overexposure due to consumption of contaminated drinking water. Human biomonitoring is the most effective way to characterize human exposure to PFASs, and it is important that as many labs as possible could easily perform this kind of analysis. Analytical methods for quantitation of PFAS mixtures in human serum have been developed, but most of them required materials that are not always easily available in all the laboratories. This paper describes a very simple and accessible HPLC MS/MS method of analysis and quantification of 13 perfluorocarboxylic acids and perfluorosulfonate compounds (belonging to the class of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs)) in human serum. Method development data provide detailed descriptions of the optimization process in terms of sample preparation, laboratory analysis of human serum samples, determination of analytes by HPLC MS/MS, and describing the pump gradient time, working conditions, and acquisition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Valentina Marra et al.)

Human exposure to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) is a major public health concern because in the last decades several cases of overexposure of people to PFASs, in particular through contaminated water, occurred worldwide. In 2013-2017 a PFAS drinking water contamination was discovered and investigated in northern Italy (Veneto region) and high PFAS serum levels were detected in exposed people. 629 subjects were enrolled: 257 residing in municipalities in the areas under impact, 250 residing in municipalities in areas at presumed background exposure and 122 farmers living in contaminated rural areas producing and consuming own livestock and vegetables and frequently using well water. The highest PFAS serum concentrations (median PFOA concentrations 40 ng/g) were found in the subgroup of farmers. The main factors influencing PFAS serum levels of farmers were residence area and the related extent of drinking water contamination, gender, years of residence in the municipalities, well water consumption and consumption of own produced food. PFOA serum concentrations in farmers residing in the areas of the Veneto region impacted by PFAS contamination are among the highest found worldwide., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) are considered non-genotoxic. However, PFAS exposure has been associated with the induction of oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo, and the possible induction of indirect genotoxic effects under sustained PFAS exposure has not been investigated. In order to shed light on this aspect, in this study a comprehensive assessment of genotoxicity was carried out in mice administered with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, 0.1, 1 and 5 mg/kg body weight) and its C4 analogue perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA, 5 mg/kg body weight) for five weeks through drinking water. Markers of cell toxicity, oxidative stress and DNA strand breaks were measured in liver, the main target of toxicity of PFOA in rodents; systemic genotoxicity was also assessed by the analysis of micronuclei in reticulocytes and spleen lymphocytes, and germ cell effects by the Comet assay on testis cells. PFOA administration at the highest dose (5 mg/kg body weight) induced marked liver hypertrophy with signs of cell injury (elevated ALT and AST), with no concurrent evidence of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress (decreased antioxidant capacity). Only mild liver hypertrophy, with no other signs of toxicity, was determined by PFBA administration. No evidence of treatment related genotoxicity was observed in any experimental group. Overall, data indicate that under the experimental conditions of this study, severe liver toxicity induced by PFOA administration is not associated with oxidative stress. Accordingly, no genotoxic effect is observed in liver and in the other tissues examined. Milder evidence of liver toxicity, with no genotoxicity, and a lower tendency to bioaccumulation were observed in PFBA treated mice., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In 2013 a contamination of drinking water by perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) was discovered in areas of the Veneto Region (northern Italy). In this study the exposure to PFASs of people living in the aforesaid areas was characterized: contaminant serum concentrations were measured and compared with those of a control population group living in neighboring areas at background exposure (based on available drinking water data). The enrolled population was also genotyped for the OATP1A2*3 allelic variant, possibly affecting PFAS excretion and hence the internal dose. The difference in PFAS concentrations between exposed and not exposed subjects was significantly larger for nine of the 12 substances analyzed, and confirmed that water contamination had resulted in an appreciable high exposure of the residing population over time. Within the group of exposed subjects, subgroups at different exposure levels were identified. The contamination of drinking water of the residence area was found to be the main factor influencing PFAS serum levels; in addition to water contamination, other relevant influencing factors were sex, the years of residence and raising own livestock. No relationship with the genetic trait for the studied renal transporter was evidenced. These results provide a baseline characterization of PFAS exposure of the monitored population groups for further studies, planned to be carried out in the near future., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), have been determined in species of Mediterranean marine organisms collected from areas supposed to be at background contamination levels. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) approach was adopted for the determination of all the metals. Arsenic, Cd and Pb determined in the 42 samples, do not exceed the pertinent maximum level except a sample of hake. In wild fish, the concentration range for Cr, Ni, V and Cu was, respectively: 0.07-0.09, 87.6-124, 0.022-0.075 and 0.79-1.74 μg/g fresh weight (fw). The farmed fish samples show concentration levels below the wild fish ones, except for Cr which range at the same levels. Cadmium and Pb show a high sample number under the quantification limit. The elements do not bio-magnify among the species considered and appear to show low variations in relation to organisms' position in the food chain and at sampling sites., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Fish and fishery products may represent one of the main sources of dietary exposure to persistent toxic substances (PTSs) such as polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls; polybromodiphenyl ethers; organochlorine pesticides; perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate; and inorganic mercury and methyl mercury. In this study, PTS contamination of Mediterranean fish and crustaceans caught in Italian coastal waters was investigated in order to increase the representativeness of the occurrence database for wild species. The objectives were to verify the suitability of regulatory limits for PTSs, identify background concentrations values, if any, and examine the possible sources of variability when assessing the chemical body burdens of aquatic species. Twelve wild species of commercial interest and two farmed fish species were chosen. Excluding methyl mercury, chemical concentrations found in wild species fell generally towards the low ends of the concentration ranges found in Europe according to EFSA database and were quite lower than the tolerable maximum levels established in the European Union; farmed fish always showed contamination levels quite lower than those detected in wild species. The data obtained for wild species seemed to confirm the absence of local sources of contamination in the chosen sampling areas; however, species contamination could exceed regulatory levels even in the absence of specific local sources of contamination as a result of the position in the food web and natural variability in species' lifestyle. A species-specific approach to the management of contamination in aquatic organisms is therefore suggested as an alternative to a general approach based only on contaminant body burden. A chemical-specific analysis performed according to organism position in the food chain strengthened the need to develop this approach., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A Seafood Frequency Questionnaire (SFQ) broken down in more than 42 items with 8-week coverage was interview-administered to 278 adults aged 19-82years (167 women, 98 in the reproductive age 19-45years, and 111 men), resident on the Italian Mediterranean shore and frequent buyer at local fish markets. Methylmercury (MeHg) intake on individual basis was estimated for a selected occurrence equal to the median value+Median Absolute Deviation (MAD) in each seafood species reported (conservative scenario). MeHg occurrence was derived from an extensive seafood database referred to years 2009-2011. Accounting for an average body weight of 62.2kg, 24.6% of women resulted overexposed with respect to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) for MeHg of 1.3μg/kg bw, with a mean of 0.92μg/kg bw. In the vulnerable group aged 19-45years, 29.6% exceeded the TWI. Rather than the amount of seafood consumed, the seafood choice appears to be the main determinant of the MeHg intake. Risk awareness was reported in the 49% of SFQs. Uncertainties related to such estimates from questionnaires are discussed, in order to give adequate health recommendations without compromising seafood consumption in the Mediterranean region., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Diet is a relevant source of exposure to environmental pollutants. Dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by the Italian population was assessed through a duplicate diet study on prepared meals. Baby food composite representative of the diet of toddlers aged 9-12 months and school canteen servings from four towns in Italy representing the diet of children aged 4-9 years were collected on a 5-day basis. Similarly, 5-day lunches from an office canteen, 7-day lunches from a hotel-school, three fast food meals, and eight duplicate 1-day meals of individuals (one vegetarian) were selected to represent the diet of adults aged above 18 years. Servings from each diet were then pooled to form a composite and analysed. Dietary intake was estimated from the resulting contaminant levels in composites combined with age-related food consumption data from national survey. The mean upper bound (UB) intakes for cumulative PCDDs, PCDFs, and DL-PCBs were 0.67, 0.63-0.92, and 0.27-0.63 pg WHO2005-TE kg(-1) body weight (bw) day(-1) for toddlers, children and adults, respectively. BDE-47 (UB) ng kg(-1) bw day(-1) estimates were 2.75 in toddlers, 0.08-0.16 in children and 0.03-0.09 in adults. Similarly, for BDE-99 higher UB intakes (ng kg(-1) bw day(-1)) resulted in toddlers (1.26), than those in children (0.06-0.08) and adults (0.03-0.10), respectively. The above estimates fall below the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) (14 WHO2005-TE kg(-1) bw day(-1)) established by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. The margin of exposure (MOE = 3) of toddlers to BDE-99 clearly indicates this age group as target for a risk-oriented approach. This study is proposed as a first cost-effective screening in PCDD, PCDF, DL-PCB and PBDE intake assessment, with a focus also on time trends.

Mercury (Hg) settlements in the Mediterranean Sea determine a potential toxicological relevance of seafood intakes for coastal populations. To assess this possibility, fish, molluscs, and crustaceans of commercial size of 69 different species were sampled and analyzed for total mercury (Hg(TOT)) from georeferenced areas and evaluated for their compliance with the European Union Maximum Residue Limits of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg wet weight (ww). Accounting for the weekly estimated seafood intake in the Italian coastal population (mean 469-626 g/person/week) it was then possible to recover threshold contamination values in seafood. Under a Tolerable Weekly Intake of 1.3 μg/kg/bw/week, a threshold seafood contamination <0.10 mg/kg ww has been derived for sensitive groups. A suitable algorithm based on the parallel MeHg and Hg(TOT) analysis on the most consumed species, helped to refine the uncertainties related to the conservative assumption in seafood all the Hg(TOT) present is in form of MeHg. This work aims to improve the link between the risk management and risk assessment strategies, with the identification of those fish and seafood species, that, when regularly consumed, could determine or prevent potential Hg(TOT)/MeHg overintakes in sensitive groups., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The dietary exposure to selected PFAAs was estimated in four selected European states (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy and Norway) representing Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern Europe. The harmonised sampling programme designed in the European Union project PERFOOD was targeted at identifying seven selected PFAAs, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in food items that are most important both in terms of consumption and based on known high contamination patterns. The estimated average dietary exposure for adults (18-64 years) and children (3-9 years) is generally below or close to 1 ng kg⁻¹ BW day⁻¹ for all seven PFAAs. Considering the high consumption of food groups that contribute most to the exposure does not result in estimates exceeding 4 ng kg⁻¹ BW day⁻¹. Thus, based on the TDIs proposed by EFSA for PFOS (150 ng kg⁻¹ BW day⁻¹) and PFOA (1500 ng kg⁻¹ BW day⁻¹), no concern can be identified. There are distinct dietary exposure patterns from region to region as a result of different food consumption and contamination patterns. Foods of plant origin (e.g. fruit and vegetables) are most important for the dietary exposure to PFHxA, PFOA and PFHxS, while the consumption of foods of animal origin (particularly fish and seafood) mostly contributes to the dietary exposure to PFDA and PFUnDA. For the dietary exposure to PFNA and PFOS, food of animal and plant origin contributes with equal importance. In conclusion, region-to-region differences as well as the relative importance of food of different origin for each PFAA should be paid more attention in further research.

Ready-to-eat servings may be more contaminated with perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) than the corresponding unprocessed foods due to the presence of PFAAs in and transfer from food contact materials (FCM) and cookware. Therefore, the presence of selected PFAAs in meals served weekly at lunch time in six Italian school canteens was assessed. Five towns were selected representing different areas with local water and food supply. Daily lunch menus were sampled and pooled to form a composite. Analyses were carried out on the weekly composite from each canteen. UPLC-MS/MS quantification limits were in the 6.0-12 pg g⁻¹ range for the selected PFAAs (PFHxA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFHxS, branched and non-branched PFOS). Non-branched PFOS was quantified in four out of six composites, with levels ranging from 14 to 25 pg g⁻¹, while PFOA and PFDA were determined in two out of six in the range 6.5-8.2 pg g⁻¹. Theoretical estimates and analytical results in the same order of magnitude indicate a negligible contribution from food processing and serving to meal contamination. When composite analytical data are transposed into dietary estimates, it is shown that Italian school-age children have intakes in the range of 0.3-1.1 and 0.5-1.4 ng kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹ for PFOA and PFOS respectively, well below the corresponding tolerable daily intakes (TDIs).

European eel and chub samples were analyzed to determine the levels of non-dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (NDL-PCBs), polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs), and brominated polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in order to evaluate the extent of contamination of the river Tiber along the urban tract through the city of Rome (Italy). All samples presented detectable levels of the chemicals analyzed, and exhibited species-specific differences in terms of congener composition and total concentrations. On average the European eel presented the highest values. In this species the dioxin-like compound sums (WHO-TEQs) exceeded the pertinent maximum levels (MLs). Non-ortho PCBs constituted approximately 80% of WHO-TEQ toxicological potential whereas NDL-PCB and PBDE concentrations appeared to match values determined in other polluted aquatic ecosystems where non-point contamination sources were present. The contamination patterns determined in fish tissues seemed to reflect the impact of generic contamination source(s).

The dietary intake of non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) has been estimated using the sum of six indicator PCBs (Sigma(6)(PCBs)) in the Italian general population. Data from a national food consumption survey were combined with the mean concentration values of the individual six indicator PCBs (IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) in foodstuffs available on the European market. Mean concentrations were estimated from the raw data set provided by the European Commission (DG SANCO). The purpose was to describe the distribution of NDL-PCB dietary intake in the Italian population, and to investigate to what extent the variability in dietary habits may cause higher exposures to the aforesaid contaminants. Results indicated a mean dietary intake of Sigma(6)(PCBs) corresponding to 24.6, 16.1, and 10.9 ng kg-bw(-1) day(-1) for toddlers (0.5-6 years old, excluding breastfeeding), children (7-12 year old), and adults (13-94 years old), respectively. Fish and fishery products and milk and dairy products were the major contributors to the total dietary intake. The highest exposures due to variation in dietary habits were in general two-three times higher than the corresponding mean values and they were generally due to a higher fish consumption rate. The NDL-PCB dietary intake decreased with age until about 10-12 years; afterwards it appeared to remain constant. The tolerable daily intake (TDI) has not been established for these contaminants; however, action and maximum allowed levels in feeding stuffs and food recently established by the European Commission for dioxin-like PCBs could also protect consumers from exposure to NDL-PCBs.

Breast milk monitoring studies of persistent and toxic environmental contaminants are of primary importance for carrying out an adequate risk assessment at the actual levels of human exposure and represent a major source of information on infant perinatal exposure. Milk specimens from mothers of the general population of the Venice and Rome areas were collected over the 1998-2001 period, pooled, and analyzed for selected persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides (p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, hexachlorobenzene), and polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the heavy metals Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Sn, and Zn. The goal was to verify whether mother milk from the Venice area, whose lagoon is partly under direct industrial impact, had a contaminant load greater than that from the Rome area, primarily urban. For mothers from the Venice area, the correlation between fish and fishery product consumption and contaminant concentrations in milk was also explored, with however inconclusive results. The concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs, and organochlorinated pesticides determined in this study were compared with those available from a previous analytical work carried out on 1987 human milk pools of domestic origin: the declining trend of the aforesaid contaminants in milk is confirmed to be in agreement with what was observed in other European countries. The breast milk content of (137)Cs and (40)K radionuclides was also determined and compared with data obtained in other research programmes carried out in Italy: the health risk for breastfed infants was deemed to be not significant.

The levels of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in human milk samples from the areas of Venice and Rome, primarily in order to characterize the current levels of infant exposure to PCBs and PBDEs due to breast feeding in Italy. Sixteen non-dioxin-like PCBs, including the traditional indicator congeners, and 11 PBDEs, comprising the relevant PBDE-47, PBDE-99, and PBDE-153, were determined. Congeners were selected for analysis according to their relative abundance in human tissues, toxicological relevance, and diffusion in the environment. Dietary habits of the milk donors were recorded by questionnaires; mothers of the Venice area were classified into three groups according to their consumption of local fish, molluscs, and other fishery products. Sigma(16)(PCBs) and Sigma(11)(PBDEs) (ng g(-1) fat) for the areas of Venice and Rome were respectively, 250-390 and 240, and 1.6-2.8 and 4.1. An increase of fish and fishery product consumption could not be associated with an increase of PCB and PBDE levels in milk.

Farmed fish can be exposed to persistent organic contaminants--such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), and dibenzofurans (PCDFs)--via feed, this eventually resulting in accumulation levels of health concern. To study the correlation between feed contamination, chemical accumulation in fish muscle (fillet), and chemical depletion, an all-vegetal base (or blank) feed was prepared and fortified with a commercial PCB mixture (Aroclor 1254) and six PCDD and PCDF congeners (namely, 2,3,7,8-T(4)CDD, 2,3,7,8-T(4)CDF, 1,2,3,7,8-P(5)CDD, 1,2,3,7,8-P(5)CDF, O(8)CDD, and O(8)CDF) to reproduce realistic low, medium, and high contamination levels. After a 1-month exposure, trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fed with the blank feed and sacrificed every 0.5 months over a 3-month period from exposure end; fillet specimens were sampled at each time. In all groups, the average fish weight increased linearly through the observation period. The chemical diminishing patterns observed were due to the combined effect of clearance and growth dilution: for 10 PCB and four PCDD and PCDF congeners, patterns were described with an empirical one-compartment (fish muscle) model. The canonical pseudo-first-order kinetic equation used was also modified into the form C=[C(0)exp(-k(C)t)] (m(W)t+1)(-1) to distinguish between the contributions to depletion from clearance, exp(-k(C)t), and growth dilution, (m(W)t+1)(-1). Most mean clearance half-life (HL(C)) estimates appear to be greater than 4 months, in a number of cases reaching magnitudes well over 10 months or even negative, thus clearly indicating a non-negligible contribution from a second compartment. Based on means and their 95% confidence intervals, the depletion HL(D) estimates of the 14 selected congeners seem to be comprised between 1.2-3.4 and 1.0-5.0 months, respectively: these values, accounting for both clearance and growth dilution, provide an indication of the relevance of a blank feed as a management option to reduce the overall PCB, PCDD, and PCDF content in farmed trout. Due to a lack of bioaccumulation, O(8)CDD and O(8)CDF yielded no results for evaluation, whereas for many PCB congeners results were insufficient for empirical modelling.

An approach based on hypothesis testing for the management of persistent inorganic and organic toxic chemicals (PTS/POPs) detected in clams and mussels from the Venice lagoon is presented. The chemicals of interest for this evaluation were the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and the heavy metals cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). Two statistically different populations of data for PCDDs+PCDFs (TEQs), HCB, Cd, and Pb, associated with biota samples collected respectively in the lagoon central district and in the southern and northern districts were identified. The central district is under the impact of the Porto Marghera industrial settlement and the city of Venice, whereas the southern and northern districts are subject to a general impact. Of the aforementioned chemicals, those with more discriminating power were found to be HCB and PCDDs+PCDFs.

In this review a discussion on some factors influencing the exposure matrices which, in turn, influences the reliability of ecotoxicological bioassays on aquatic sediments, has been carried out. These factors include the variability induced on sediments by the sampling, storage, handling, and preparative operations. The exposure matrices-sediments in toto, interstitial water and elutriate, can be deeply modified by these actions, which alter the chemicals bioavailability and, therefore, the bioassay meaning. In order to obtain reproducible and scientifically valid data, to be used in the ecological risk assessment, all these factors need to be considered and kept under control.

Persistent organic pollutants (POP) are a heterogeneous group of chemicals widely distributed in the aquatic environment. Some classes cause adverse effects in the biota at minute concentrations, persist in the environment for a long time, and bioaccumulate in animal tissues. Several strategies exist today to monitor their levels and evaluate their effects in the environment. Particularly, some interesting approaches have recently been developed in the field of biomarkers, although much work seems to be required to study the relationships between toxic responses at different levels of the biological organization of interest and concentration levels in tissues.