Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was analyzed in various marine organisms of Korea. HCB was detected in all organism samples with residual concentrations from 0.51 to 222 pg/g wet weight. HCB residue was the highest content in crustacean, and followed by bivalves, fish, cephalopods and gastropods. The residues were comparable to or lower than those in marine organisms of other countries. Daily dietary intake of HCB from seafood was estimated to be 13.4 pg/kg body weight/day. The relative contribution of taxonomic group to the total dietary intake of HCB were in the order of crustaceans (40.1%), bivalves (34.2%), fish (23.1%), cephalopods (2.22%), and gastropods (0.38%). Daily dietary intake of HCB expressed as toxic equivalent (TEQ) value was estimated to be 1.34×10-3 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day. This value did not exceed tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the WHO, the UK toxicity committee and the KFDA. Cancer risk and target hazard quotient (THQ) due to the consumption of the marine organism in Korean adult population were evaluated using the exposure equation of food ingestion. This result suggests that dietary intake of HCB by the consumption of Korean seafood seems to be safe for human health with negligible cancer and non-cancer risks so far.

• Hyo-Bang Moon(Marine Environment Management Team, National Fisheries Research & Development Institute) Corresponding Author
• Su-Jeong Lee(Marine Environment Management Team, National Fisheries Research & Development Institute)
• Yoon Lee(Marine Environment Management Team, National Fisheries Research & Development Institute)
• Jong-Soo Park(Marine Environment Management Team, National Fisheries Research & Development Institute)