Hydrocarbons, sterols and fatty acids in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) of the Adriatic Sea

Aliphatic hydrocarbons, linear alkylbenzenes (LABs), sterols and fatty acids were determined in sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) of the Adriatic Sea in order to study their relationship with the trophic chain. The prevailing aliphatic hydrocarbons were squalene (40.3%) and n-C17:1 (24.9%), both of recent biological origin. LABS, on the other hand, are considered tracers of domestic wastes in marine environment. Among sterols, cholesterol (73.5%) and other Δ5-sterols are dominant, Fatty acids 16:0 (20.0%), 20:5ω3 (12.2%) and 14:0 (7.6%) were prevalent here as they are in other echinoid species analyzed by other authors. The distribution of these different compounds seems to be influenced by factors such as physiological needs, available diet and anthropogenic contamination.