Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) areubiquitous organic contaminants present in marine sediments as a consequence of their continuous input from either land- or marine-based sources. Fishes have a higher capacity to metabolize and excrete PAHs than invertebrates such as mollusks and consequently the concentration of PAH metabolites in the bile fluid of fishcan be used as an indirect indicator of exposure to PAH contamination. In this study the concentration and distribution of major PAHs metabolites in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) bile from the hypersaline Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Spain) were characterized for the first time.