Abstract
Data about the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biota from Tunisian coastal ecosystems is scarce. The present paper is the first work to report these chemicals in the biota of Ghar El Melh Lagoon. From Bizerte and Ghar El Melh Lagoons (Tunisia), levels of 15 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Chelon auratus (mullet) muscle were measured.
Total PAH levels in the mullet were comparable to or lower than those found in other fish specimens from other countries. The nature of the detected chemicals was examined using several different compositional ratios, revealing petrogenic and pyrolytic anthropogenic contamination in both studied lagoons.
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•PAHs were detected in fish from two coastal regions.•PAHs concentrations were similar or lower to other world locations.•Mixed sources of PAHs were identified in the investigated areas.•The risk of PAHs intake via Liza aurata consumption was negligible.•No correlation was revealed between PAHs levels and fish length or weight.