Assessment of PAH Pollution in Coastal Areas from the NW Mediterranean through the Analysis of Fish Bile

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution in coastal areas from the NW Mediterranean has been assessed by measuring bile PAH metabolites in two fish species, the red mullet – Mullus barbatus-and the sea comber – Serranus cabrilla – Bile crude samples were directly analysed by LC-fluorescence at the excitation/emission wavelengths of benzo[a]pyrene (380/430 nm). Subsequently, bile samples were hydrolysed and analysed by (a) LC-fluorescence at the excitation/emission wavelength pairs of naphthol (290/335 nm) and pyrenol (345/395 nm), and (b) gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for the determination of individual PAHs. Qualitative and quantitative differences were recorded among sampling sites. Both species allowed us to detect different pollution gradients, the highest levels of FACs were observed in organisms caught in the vicinity of big industrial cities, whereas the lowest levels were recorded in organisms from Corsica and Sardinia. The obtained results highlight the usefulness of the LC-fluorescence technique as an initial screening method to assess PAH exposure in coastal fish.