PCBs and PCDD/FS in Fish and Fish Products and Their Impact on the Human Body Burden in Belgium

average concentration of 540 ng-PCB g)1 fat (5.02 ng-PCB g)1 wet weight) was observed. The average concentration of PCDD/Fs, assessed with the CALUX bioassay, amounted to 64 pg-CALUX-TEQ g)1 fat (0.58 pg-CALUX-TEQ g)1 wet weight) and that of PCDD/Fs + dioxin-like PCBs amounted to 131 pg-CALUX-TEQ g)1 fat (1.18 pg-CALUX-TEQ g)1 wet weight). Results of the PCB congeners analyses show that PCB-153 is the most abundant congener in almost all samples, with also main contributions of the 138- and 180-congeners. For some species such as the sand sole and lemon sole, a fairly constant PCB content, independent of the fat percentage, was observed. For a second group of species such as whelks, cod, and whiting, a positive correlation was observed between their PCB concentration (ng g)1 fat) and their % of fat. The rela-tionship between marker PCBs and PCDD/Fs concentrations