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<BR>Non-compliant fish from the Rhône<BR>An example of PCB risk assessment support provided by the Agency <BR><BR><BR><BR>Since late 2007, the Agency has been regularly interpreting the PCB contamination levels of freshwater fish within the context of the national PCB action plan set up by the Ministers of ecology, agriculture and health. Twelve opinions have been issued from end 2007 through March 2010 for various sites, in particular the Rhône and Somme rivers, the lakes of Annecy, Geneva and Le Bourget, the rivers of Nord Pas de Calais, the Doubs, the Saône and the Bay of the Seine River. As a case in point, the interpretations made for the Rhône River are described below. <BR><BR>After discovering high levels of PCBs in two bream caught in the département of the Rhône (Canal de Jonage area), AFSSA was asked, in August 2005, to assess the risk associated with consuming fish from this area. The analysis of samples taken for this assessment revealed uniform contamination of fish throughout the canal, justifying the measures taken by the local authorities of the Rhône who had banned the consumption and commercialisation of these fish. In order to more effectively target the contaminated area, AFSSA recommended that fish and sediment samples up and downstream of the canal be collected. Analysis of these samples in spring 2007 revealed that PCB contamination levels in certain species of fish exceeded the regulatory limits, bringing about several prefectural orders banning their consumption and/or sale. <BR><BR>In this context, the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) issued a request to AFSSA on 9 August 2007 in order to: <BR>- determine which species may be consumed in compliance with regulatory limits,<BR>- specify the additional sampling plans that are needed on species whose contamination level cannot be determined accurately on the basis of current data,<BR>- indicate if, as knowledge currently stands, it is possible to infer a correlation between PCB contamination of river sediments and the contamination level of fish.<BR><BR>Three opinions were issued in response to these questions, the first dated 3 December 2007, the second dated 28 March 2008 and the third dated 6 April 2009. In the latter opinion, new data gathered since March 2008 supported and built on the conclusions issued in the first two opinions. <BR><BR>The examination of the analytical data available on fish and sediments and the analysis of the literature back the hypothesis that sediments are indeed a source of fish contamination in the Rhône, but it is currently very difficult to correlate sediment contamination with fish contamination quantitatively. It is therefore necessary to consider the complexity of trophic chains which may differ from one site or one species to another. A research programme by the CEMAGREF is currently being conducted on this subject.<BR><BR>For each species considered, the Agency sought to estimate the average contamination level according to the sampling sector considered and was therefore able to define where each species stands in relation to the regulatory limits. <BR>The analysis of available data shows that species characteristics and weight as well as the sampling sector of the fish have a major influence on the contamination observed. Accordingly, fish living in the depths (benthic species) are more contaminated than species living near the surface or species which move between the depths and the surface. It also seems that the sectors situated between the Sault-Brénaz dam and the confluence with the Isère River, are sites where the risk of exceeding regulatory limits is higher than in other sectors. <BR><BR>Lastly, a global trend can be observed in the Rhône: contamination is higher upstream and gradually diminishes as one travels downstream.<BR><BR>In view of these data and the recommendations issued in the scientific and technical support document (AST) of 8 February 2008 (concerning the national PCB sampling plan method for river fish), AFSSA issued specific recommendations for each sector analysed. <BR>These recommendations help managers to regulate fish consumption according to fish species and fishing area. the Agency recommended avoiding consumption of eels and PCB bioaccumulation species such as bream, barbell, carp and catfish from the Sault-Brénaz dam upstream of Lyon through to the Mediterranean Sea by way of the Grand Rhône. As for the Petit Rhône, recommendations stipulate that only eel consumption should be avoided. Other more specific recommendations were issued for species with low levels of bioaccumulation. <BR><BR><BR><BR>On 1 July 2010, AFSSA and AFSSET merged to create ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health Safety.<BR><BR><BR><BR>April 2010<BR><BR><BR>>Avis du 28 mars 2008 relatif à l'interprétation des résultats d'analyses du plan d'échantillonnage mis en place dans le cadre de la pollution en PCB des poissons du Rhône (Opinion of 28 March 2008 on the interpretation of the analysis results of the sampling plan set up in view of PCB pollution of fish in the Rhône - PDF - only in French)<BR><BR>>Avis du 3 décembre 2007 relatif à l'interprétation des résultats d'analyses du plan d'échantillonnage mis en place dans le cadre de la pollution en PCB des poissons du Rhône (Opinion of 3 December 2007 on the interpretation of the analysis results of the sampling plan set up in view of PCB pollution of fish in the Rhône - PDF - only in French)<BR><BR>>Appui scientifique et technique du 8 février 2008 relatif au risque phycotoxinique dans les coquillages autres que les mollusques bivalves vivants (gastéropodes, échinodermes et tuniciers) (Scientific and technical support of 8 February 2008 on the phycotoxin risk in shellfish other than living bivalve mollusks (gasteropods, echinoderms and tunicates) - PDF - only in French)<BR>Find out more...<BR>Human food<BR>Home,Anses,News,Press room,Agenda,Our topics,Food,Animal health and nutrition,Environmental health,Occupational health,Plants,Opinions and publications,Last opinions and reports,Food opinions and reports,Animal health and nutrition opinions and reports,Environmental and occupational health opinions and reports,Plants opinions,Opinions and reports in English,Bulletins and periodicals,Other publications,Subscribe to Anses newsletter,Research and reference,Research program,Laboratories and reference activities, + ,Job opportunities,Public procurement contracts,Our websites,Partners,Extranet / ExpertNet,Kid's area,Legal notice,Contact, ,<BR>> Notre fiche "Recommandations pour la consommation de poissons d'eau douce"<A HREF='PNY8I0.htm'>More infos on Anses</A>
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Non-compliant fish from the Rhône An example of PCB risk assessment support provided by the Agency
Since late 2007, the Agency has been regularly interpreting the PCB contamination levels of freshwater fish within the context of the national PCB action plan set up by the Ministers of ecology, agriculture and health. Twelve opinions have been issued from end 2007 through March 2010 for various sites, in particular the Rhône and Somme rivers, the lakes of Annecy, Geneva and Le Bourget, the rivers of Nord Pas de Calais, the Doubs, the Saône and the Bay of the Seine River. As a case in point, the interpretations made for the Rhône River are described below.
After discovering high levels of PCBs in two bream caught in the département of the Rhône (Canal de Jonage area), AFSSA was asked, in August 2005, to assess the risk associated with consuming fish from this area. The analysis of samples taken for this assessment revealed uniform contamination of fish throughout the canal, justifying the measures taken by the local authorities of the Rhône who had banned the consumption and commercialisation of these fish. In order to more effectively target the contaminated area, AFSSA recommended that fish and sediment samples up and downstream of the canal be collected. Analysis of these samples in spring 2007 revealed that PCB contamination levels in certain species of fish exceeded the regulatory limits, bringing about several prefectural orders banning their consumption and/or sale.
In this context, the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) issued a request to AFSSA on 9 August 2007 in order to: - determine which species may be consumed in compliance with regulatory limits, - specify the additional sampling plans that are needed on species whose contamination level cannot be determined accurately on the basis of current data, - indicate if, as knowledge currently stands, it is possible to infer a correlation between PCB contamination of river sediments and the contamination level of fish.
Three opinions were issued in response to these questions, the first dated 3 December 2007, the second dated 28 March 2008 and the third dated 6 April 2009. In the latter opinion, new data gathered since March 2008 supported and built on the conclusions issued in the first two opinions.
The examination of the analytical data available on fish and sediments and the analysis of the literature back the hypothesis that sediments are indeed a source of fish contamination in the Rhône, but it is currently very difficult to correlate sediment contamination with fish contamination quantitatively. It is therefore necessary to consider the complexity of trophic chains which may differ from one site or one species to another. A research programme by the CEMAGREF is currently being conducted on this subject.
For each species considered, the Agencysought to estimate the average contamination level according to the sampling sector considered and was therefore able to define where each species stands in relation to the regulatory limits. The analysis of available data shows that species characteristics and weight as well as the sampling sector of the fish have a major influence on the contamination observed. Accordingly, fish living in the depths (benthic species) are more contaminated than species living near the surface or species which move between the depths and the surface. It also seems that the sectors situated between the Sault-Brénaz dam and the confluence with the Isère River, are sites where the risk of exceeding regulatory limits is higher than in other sectors.
Lastly, a global trend can be observed in the Rhône: contamination is higher upstream and gradually diminishes as one travels downstream.
In view of these data and the recommendations issued in the scientific and technical support document (AST) of 8 February 2008 (concerning the national PCB sampling plan method for river fish), AFSSA issued specific recommendations for each sector analysed. These recommendations help managers to regulate fish consumption according to fish species and fishing area. the Agencyrecommended avoiding consumption of eels and PCB bioaccumulation species such as bream, barbell, carp and catfish from the Sault-Brénaz dam upstream of Lyon through to the Mediterranean Sea by way of the Grand Rhône. As for the Petit Rhône, recommendations stipulate that only eel consumption should be avoided. Other more specific recommendations were issued for species with low levels of bioaccumulation.
On 1 July 2010, AFSSA and AFSSET merged to create ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health Safety.
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