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Listen to this siteWednesday 11 February 2004
This research project aims to monitor the concentration of polyaromatic hyrdocarbons (PAHs) in farmed blue mussels to ensure the mussels continue to be safe for human consumption.
Study Duration : November 2003 to March 2004
Contractor : Fisheries Research Services - The Marine Laboratory
The objective of this monitoring programme (a supplement to S02008) is to monitor levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in farmed blue mussels over the time of the year, given the seasonal variation, when they possess maximum PAH concentrations. The information gathered being used to ensure the mussels continue to be safe for human consumption.
Further to the investigations carried out by the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory (FRS ML) for the Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) during the period 1999 to August 2001, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration and composition has been determined in farmed blue mussels ( mytilus edulis ) from the Kinlochleven shellfish farm in Loch Leven and from a reference shellfish farm in Loch Etive during the period November 2003 to March 2004.
The PAH concentrations varied in accordance with recognised seasonal variability at both sites with the maximum concentration in Kinlochleven mussels (324 ng/g wet weight PAH) observed in January 2004 and from Loch Etive (78.8 ng/g wet weight PAH) in February 2004.
The PAH concentrations were consistently higher in mussels from the Kinlochleven mussel farm.
In all but one case, the PAH compounds benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene, considered to be of greatest concern in terms of human health, were present at less than 15 ng/g wet weight. The mussel sample from the Kinlochleven shellfish farm taken in March 2004 returned a benz[a]anthracene concentration of 15.7 ng/g wet weight.
Final report is available from the FSA Library and Information centre.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Dr Elsie Widdowson Library and Information Services, Food Standards Agency ( Tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 ) or e-mail
library&info@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
).
Contact : For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or e-mail science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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