Preliminary measurements of formaldehyde in seawater and edible tissues of farmed gilthead seabream after formalin immersion

This study was performed to measure the possible persistence of formaldehyde, active substance formalin solution, in seawater and edible gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) tissues after a bath. The trial carried out during summer period as parasitic infestations are high frequency. Water samples were taken within or at short distance from treatment cages, following immersion. Fish fillets also sampled same sampling points. Chromatographic analysis water tissue with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA). Measured formaldehyde concentrations clearly showed no increase due immersion advent time. Formaldehyde measurements revealed that treatments negligible amounts remain aquatic environment these values seem be relatively unaffected by depth vicinity fish cages. Further research is required investigate degradation cycle under Mediterranean conditions, including more farm sites temperature ranges.