Occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Lake Maggiore (Italy and Switzerland)

Samples of air (gas and particulate phases), bulk deposition, aquatic settling material and sediments were collected in Lake Maggiore (LM) in order to determine their content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Air (gas and particulate phases) concentrations were 0.5 pg m(-3), 80 pg m(-3), 13 pg m(-3) and 106 pg m(-3) for SigmaPCDD/Fs, SigmaPCBs, Sigma dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) and SigmaPBDEs, respectively. Deposition fluxes ranged from 0.7 ng m(-2) d(-1) for SigmaPCDD/Fs to 32 ng m(-2) d(-1) for SigmaPCBs. Aquatic settling material presented concentrations of 0.4 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw) for SigmaPCDD/Fs, 13 ng g(-1) dw for SigmaPCB, 3.4 ng g(-1) dw for SigmaDL-PCBs and 5.7 ng g(-1) dw for SigmaPBDEs. Mean sediment concentrations were 0.4 ng g(-1) dw for SigmaPCDD/Fs, 11 ng g(-1) dw for SigmaPCB, 3 ng g(-1) dw for SigmaDL-PCBs and 5.1 ng g(-1) dw for SigmaPBDEs. Similar PCDD/F and DL-PCB congener patterns in all the environmental compartments of LM point to an important, if not dominant, contribution of atmospheric deposition as source of these pollutants into LM. In contrast, PBDE congener distribution was not similar in the different environmental compartments. BDE 47 dominated air and settling material, while BDE 209 was the predominant congener in the bulk atmospheric deposition. Moreover, sediments showed two distinct PBDE congener profiles. Lower PBDE concentrated sediments were dominated by congeners 47 and 99, while BDE 209 dominated in higher PBDE concentrated samples. This suggests the influence of local sources as well as atmospheric input of PBDEs into LM.     

Dehalogenation of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers using a hybrid bioinorganic catalyst

The environmentally prevalent polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) #47 and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) #28 and #118 were challenged for 24 hours with a novel biomass-supported Pd catalyst (Bio-Pd(0)). Analysis of the products via GC-MS revealed the Bio-Pd(0) to cause the challenged compounds to undergo stepwise dehalogenation with preferential loss of the least sterically hindered halogen atom. A mass balance for PCB #28 showed that it is degraded to three dichlorobiphenyls (33.9%), two monochlorobiphenyls (12%), and biphenyl (30.7%). The remaining mass was starting material. In contrast, while PCB #118 underwent degradation to yield five tetra- and five trichlorinated biphenyls, no less chlorinated products or biphenyl were detected, and the total mass of degraded products was 0.3%. Although the Bio-Pd(0) material was developed for treatment of PCBs, a mass balance for PBDE #47 showed that the biocatalyst could prove a potentially useful method for treatment of PBDEs. Specifically, 10% of PBDE #47 was converted to identifiable lower brominated congeners, predominantly the tribrominated PBDE #17 and the dibrominated PBDE #4, 75% remained intact, while 15% of the starting mass was unaccounted for.     

Levels and congener profiles of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in primipara breast milk from Shenzhen and exposure risk for breast-fed infants

This study aimed at revealing the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk from primipara in Shenzhen (China), and estimating daily intake of PBDEs for breast-fed infants. Concentrations of 7 PBDEs were measured in 60 breast milk samples by isotope dilution HRGC/HRMS (high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry). The intake of PBDEs for breast-fed infants was estimated based on the infant's daily milk consumption. The range of total concentration of 7 PBDEs congeners in samples was 2.6-188.6 ng g(-1) lipid (mean: 14.8 ng g(-1) lipid; median: 7.2 ng g(-1) lipid). The mean estimated daily intake of PBDEs by breast-fed infants ranged from 9.9 to 335.9 ng kg(-1) body weight (bw) per day (mean: 52.5 ng kg(-1) bw per day; median: 28.6 ng kg(-1) bw per day). The levels of PBDEs body burden in the recruited mothers of Shenzhen were higher than those reported previously for the general population from other areas in China. No significant correlations were found between the body burden of PBDEs and the mothers' age, pre-pregnancy BMI, dietary habits, duration of residence in Shenzhen, weight and length of the newborns. BDE-47 and BDE-153 were major PBDE congeners in milk samples, while the congeners of BDE-183 and BDE-28 were also high in Shenzhen. The situation may be attributed to the special economic pattern including electronic production in Shenzhen in the past three decades. Continuous surveillance on PBDEs levels in human milk is needed in order to accurately evaluate the environmental impact of PBDEs to human health in Shenzhen.     

Preliminary screening of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) flame retardants in landfill leachate

The occurrence of selected brominated flame retardants, including nine polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in leachate samples from eight landfill sites in South Africa, were investigated. In addition, the possible influences of dissolved organic carbon on their levels were also evaluated. Filtered leachate samples were subjected to solid-phase extraction to isolate the various target compounds. PBDEs with six bromine substituents and above, as well as α-HBCDD, β-HBCDD and TBBPA, were generally found below the detection limit. However, the mean value of the total lower PBDE congeners ranged between 0.04 and 0.48 μg L^?1, and the concentrations of γ-HBCDD ranged from not detectable (ND) to 0.05 μg L^?1. No significant correlation was observed between the target compounds and dissolved organic carbon, although weak to moderate correlations were mostly observed for the lower PBDEs.     

New evidences in the complexity of contamination of the lagoon of Venice: polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) pollution

This study presents the first evaluation of the current pollution by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) of surface sediments from the Lagoon of Venice. We focused the research on tri-to hepta-BDEs, the main components of penta- and octa-mixtures, which are considered to be the most toxic for the biocoenosis. The results pointed out a quite homogeneous contamination of this keystone European transitional environment, with ∑ ₁₃PBDEs values ra nging from 0.39 to 6.78 ng/g dry weight; these values reflect low to moderate pollution levels, which is in conformity to other coastal European ecosystems. The average PBDE profile of the lagoon sediments follows this decreasing trend of congeners: BDE-47>BDE-99> >BDE-190>BDE-28>BDE-153>BDE-154>BDE-138, BDE-183, and BDE-17, which is similar to the worldwide distribution pattern. BDE-47 and BDE-99 revealed a recent use of a penta-BDE mixture, while the presence of hepta-BDEs (BDE-183 and BDE-190) in all of the sites can indicate the actual use of a deca-BDE formulation, because these congeners are considered to be debrominated byproducts of BDE-209 degradation.     

Preliminary assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Scottish aquatic environment, including the Firth of Clyde

This paper presents preliminary data on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Scottish aquatic environment. Sediment and biota (fish liver, fish muscle and mussels) from a number of locations around Scotland were analysed for PBDEs with samples being from both remote and from potentially contaminated areas such as the former sewage sludge dump site at Garroch Head in the Clyde. PBDEs were measured in both cultivated, rope grown mussels and wild mussels collected from 5 sites around Scotland in 2006. Total PBDE concentrations (sum of tri- to hepta-BDEs) ranged from 相似文献   

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in freshwater mussels and fish from Flanders, Belgium

The levels and distribution of PBDEs in zebra mussels and several freshwater fish species (eel, carp and gibel carp) were investigated for different sites in Flanders, Belgium. In parallel, other organohalogenated contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p[prime or minute]-DDE and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were also measured and their relationship with PBDEs was investigated. At most sites, individual PBDE congeners were present at detectable levels in mussel tissue, with the mean [summation operator]PBDE concentration ranging from 0.15 to 1.8 ng g(-1) wet weight (ww). The PCB concentrations in mussels ranged from 6.2 to 102 ng g(-1) ww. HCB and p,p[prime or minute]-DDE could be measured in mussels from most sites, mean values ranging from below the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 0.58 ng g(-1) ww and from 0.66 to 6.5 ng g(-1) ww, respectively. Except for one site (Blokkersdijk, Antwerp) where PBDEs were below the LOQ in carp muscle, all fish samples from other sites contained detectable PBDE levels, with the highest concentrations (14 +/- 14 ng g(-1) ww) being measured in eel liver from Watersportbaan (Ghent). The sampled sites covered a broad concentration range of organohalogenated pollutants with the highest values being consistently measured in eel liver. With few exceptions, all correlations between PBDEs and organochlorine pollutants for each species were low (r < 0.50) and most were statistically not significant (p > 0.05). This suggests that the exposure to contaminants arises from local sources possessing different signatures of PBDEs and organochlorine pollutants.     

Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in soils from the East Antarctic coast

Concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), alpha-, beta- and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, 6 o,p'-and p,p'-isomers of DDT and 28 PCB congeners have been measured in eleven soil samples and one lichen collected on the Eastern coast of Antarctica from 5 Russian stations. For samples with low concentrations of PCBs (range 0.20-0.41 ng g(-1) dry weight) and pesticides (0.86-4.69 ng g(-1) and 0.11-1.22 ng g(-1) dry weight for HCHs and DDTs, respectively), atmospheric long-range transport from Africa, South America or Australia was suggested as the sole source of contamination. The profile of PCB congeners was dominated by the more volatile tri-, tetra- and penta-PCBs congeners, thus supporting long-range transport hypothesis. Four samples contained moderate levels of PCBs (range 1.98-6.94 ng g(-1) dry weight) and variable concentrations of pesticides (gamma-HCH, p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT being the main contaminants). For samples with high concentrations of PCBs (range 90.26-157.45 ng g(-1)) and high concentrations of pesticides, the presence of high molecular weight PCB congeners such as: 153, 180, 187, 170 etc, strongly suggest a local source (biotic) of PCBs rather than atmospheric transport. It is likely that on a local scale, biotic focussing of pollutants, due to bird activities (nesting and excrement) can cause high contamination levels and become more significant than contaminant input via abiotic pathways.     

Detection of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) from O'ahu, Hawai;i

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been detected for the first time at a range from 231.58 to 685.61 ng g(-1) lipid weight in the muscles of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) collected from O'ahu, an island of the geographically isolated Hawaiian archipelago.     

Levels and temporal trends of HCH isomers in ringed seals from West and East Greenland

Levels and temporal trends of the hexachlorocyclohexane isomers alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH were analysed in blubber of juvenile ringed seals from West Greenland (1994 to 2006) and juvenile and adult ringed seals from East Greenland (1986 to 2006). No significant differences in the concentration levels in the juvenile seals were found between East and West Greenland for any of the three isomers. alpha-HCH concentrations were not significantly different between juvenile and adult ringed seals from East Greenland, whereas beta- and gamma-HCH concentrations were significantly higher in adult ringed seals. alpha- and beta-HCH in Greenland ringed seals were approximately a factor two lower than in the Canadian Arctic, and alpha-HCH was a factor 2-3 higher than in ringed seals from an area east of Svalbard, Norway. Annual decreases in ringed seals from Greenland during the study periods were detected to be 9.1-11.7%, 1.4-3.9% and 6.0-6.4% for alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH, respectively, being quite similar in both East and West Greenland. Similar levels and trends in East and West Greenland support the general understanding of the pathways of HCH isomers to and in the Arctic.     

Contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) including dioxin-like PCBs (non-ortho, PCB 77, PCB 126, and PCB 169 and mono-ortho, PCB 105, PCB 118, and PCB 156) were measured in different organs and tissues (melon, blubber, liver, kidney, lung, heart, and muscle tissue) of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Adriatic Sea). The mean highest levels were in blubber and melon, followed by liver, kidney, lung, heart, and muscle tissue. PCB profiles were similar in all tissues and organs being dominated by the higher chlorinated homologues (hexa-CBs, 55.8-62.1%; penta-CBs, 15.4-20.0%; and hepta-CB PCB 180, 12.7-16.5%). Major PCBs in all tissues were congeners 138 and 153 collectively accounting for 50.6-58.3% of the total PCB concentrations, followed by PCB 101, 105, 118, and 180 constituting from 27.0% to 31.0%. PCB levels were higher in adult males than in adult females. The estimated 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxic equivalents of non- and mono-ortho PCBs were much higher than the threshold level above which adverse effects have been observed in other marine mammals species, suggesting that striped dolphins in this region are at risk for toxic effects.     

Organochlorines and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in four geographically separated populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar) populations from four locations, two from isolated Swedish lake systems, one of the Baltic Sea and one of the North Atlantic, were analyzed to determine the concentrations and spatial variations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorines (DDT, PCB and HCH). Levels in both liver and muscle were in the same range as previously reported in Atlantic salmon, except for elevated concentrations found per lipid weight (lw) in the muscle samples of salmon from the North Atlantic ( summation PBDE 263 ng g(-1) lw, summation PCB 3262 ng g(-1) lw, summation DDT 4063 ng g(-1) lw summation HCH 131 ng g(-1)). In general, elevated concentrations in the muscles compared to the liver were observed, especially in lipid depleted migrating salmon, possibly caused by a faster lipid depletion compared with the redistribution of PBDEs, PCBs and DDTs. These findings indicated that the life stage and thereby the lipid dynamics of the fish must be considered prior to comparison based on lipid weight, especially as Atlantic salmon experience large variations in lipid content during periods of migration. The dominating PBDE congener was BDE-47, representing more than 25% in all fish. The PBDE pattern changed between locations, with a significant separation of the fish from the freshwater and marine environment when analyzed using principal component analysis.     

Biomonitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in heavily polluted aquatic environment in different fish species

The distribution and concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in fish species (European perch Perca fluviatilis, northern pike Esox lucius, pike perch Sander lucioperca, wels catfish Silirus glanus, common carp Cyprinus carpio, European eel Anguilla anguilla, freshwater bream Abramis brama, goldfish Carassius auratus, and roach Rutilus rutilus) in a heavily polluted water reservoir Zemplínska ?írava (Slovakia). The study performed at two different time points 5?years apart (2004 and 2009) revealed serious PCB contamination of fish muscle tissue and significant interspecies as well as tissue-specific differences in PCB uptake by fish. Total PCBs broadly correlated with the trophic position of individual fish species within a food chain (P??0.05). The study has shown that the kind of fish, its feeding habit, and specific conditions of the habitat are mutually interrelated factors that are responsible for significant variations in fish body burdens. A tendency to PCB biomagnification was also proved in some fish species of this water reservoir.     

A national probabilistic study of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish from US lakes and reservoirs

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals that are present in air, water, soil, sediment, and biota (including fish). Most previous studies of PBDEs in fish were spatially focused on targeted waterbodies. National estimates were developed for PBDEs in fish from lakes and reservoirs of the conterminous US (excluding the Laurentian Great Lakes) using an unequal probability design. Predator (fillet) and bottom-dweller (whole-body) composites were collected during 2003 from 166 lakes selected randomly from the target population of 147,343 lakes. Both composite types comprised nationally representative samples that were extrapolated to the sampled population of 76,559 and 46,190 lakes for predators and bottom dwellers, respectively. Fish were analyzed for 34 individual PBDE congeners and six co-eluting congener pairs representing a total of 46 PBDEs. All samples contained detectable levels of PBDEs, and BDE-47 predominated. The maximum aggregated sums of congeners ranged from 38.3 ng/g (predators) to 125 ng/g (bottom dwellers). Maximum concentrations in fish from this national probabilistic study exceeded those reported from recent targeted studies of US inland lakes, but were lower than those from Great Lakes studies. The probabilistic design allowed the development of cumulative distribution functions to quantify PBDE concentrations versus the cumulative number of US lakes from the sampled population.     

Emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to air from waste incinerators and high thermal processes in India

This study investigated dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in gasses emitted from waste incinerators and thermal processes in central and western parts of India. The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs) ranged from 0.0070 to 26.8140 ng toxicity equivalent (TEQ)/Nm³, and those of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) ranged from 0.0001?×?10^?1 to 0.0295 ng TEQ/Nm³. The characteristics of mean PCDD/F I-TEQ concentration and congener profiles were studied over all the samples of air. In particular, a pattern consisting of a low proportion of dioxin-like PCBs and high proportion of PCDDs/DFs was common for all the samples from incinerators and high-temperature processes.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the riverine and marine sediments of the Laizhou Bay area, North China

62 riverine and marine sediments were collected from the Laizhou Bay area, where the largest manufacturing base of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in Asia is located. Eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analyzed to investigate the impact of rapidly-developed bromine industries on the regional aquatic system. PBDE concentrations varied largely in riverine sediments. Σ(7)PBDEs (including BDE 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183) and BDE 209 ranged from 0.01 to 53 ng g(-1) dw and from 0.74 to 285 ng g(-1) dw with a mean value of 4.5 ng g(-1) dw and 54 ng g(-1) dw, respectively, indicating a strong influence of direct pollution discharges from local factories. In marine sediments, Σ(7)PBDEs and BDE 209 ranged from not detected (nd) to 0.66 ng g(-1) dw and from 0.66 to 12 ng g(-1) dw with a mean value of 0.32 ng g(-1) dw and 5.1 ng g(-1) dw, respectively. PBDE concentrations were mostly <10 ng g(-1) dw for Σ(7)PBDEs and <50 ng g(-1) dw for BDE 209, which are at a relatively low level for monitored riverine and coastal sediments around the world. Even at the most contaminated sites in Laizhou Bay area, PBDE concentrations were not among the highest concentrations reported in the literature. Congener compositions were dominated by BDE 209 (57.2-99.9% of the sum of BDE congeners), with minor contributions from penta- and octa-BDE products. Tri- to octa-BDE congeners were well correlated among each other (r > 0.75) and thus sources from similar mixing of penta- and octa-BDE products were suggested in this area. Compared with riverine sediments, a much better correlation between PBDE concentrations with TOC was observed in marine environment. The congener pattern changed and their correlation coefficients among each other were remarkably reduced. Contributions of BDE 28, 47 and 99 to Σ(7)PBDEs were generally the same in almost all the marine sites, while it was distinctively higher for BDE 153. These are probably attributable to several reasons, such as contributions by atmospheric deposition and/or redistribution between particles of various sizes during and/or after fluvial transportation combined with the difference of physiochemical properties of BDE congeners.     

Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCDD/Fs and PCBs) in food from farms close to foot and mouth disease animal pyres

To control the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which occurred in the UK in early 2001, a large number of farm animals were slaughtered. Where it was not possible to render or landfill the carcasses, they were destroyed by burning on open pyres, with wood, coal and other materials. Uncontrolled combustion such as this is known to produce small quantities of dioxins and an investigation was made into whether, as a result of the burning, there was an elevation in the concentrations of these compounds in food produced in the areas close to the pyres. With few exceptions, concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were within the expected ranges as predicted by reference data. No accumulation over time was evident from a repeat milk sampling exercise. Where elevated concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were found in chickens and eggs, they were in samples not destined for the food chain. Elevated levels in some samples of milk from Dumfries and Galloway were not found in earlier or later samples and may have been found as a result of a temporary feeding regime. Elevated concentrations in lamb from Carmarthenshire were from very young animals which would not have entered the food chain. There was no evidence of any significant increase in dietary exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs as a result of the FMD pyres.     

Occurrence, distribution, and source of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soil and leaves from Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in soil and three plant species samples taken at different land use areas in Shenzhen China. The concentrations of ??₇BDEs (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, and BDE-183) and BDE-209 in the surface soils ranged from 0.23 to 271 and 8.9 to 5,956 ng/g dry weight (dw), respectively. These figures are comparable to that in the soils of electronic waste dismantling sites. BDE-209 was the predominant congener (contributes 85?C99% of ??₈PBDEs (??₇PBDEs plus BDE-209)) in soils. The regression slopes of total organic carbon and individual BDE congeners were rather gentle, indicating that factors other than soil organic matter regulated the soil concentrations. Proximity to sources of deposition processes might be the major factors. In the plant leaves, ??₇BDEs and BDE-209 concentrations ranged from 1.29 to 5.91 and 5.49 to 28.2 ng/g dw, respectively. BDE-209 is also the dominant component, but the contribution was much lower compared with that in soils. Bauhinia purpurea Linn. and Michelia alba DC. show some similarities on the uptake of PBDEs, while Ficus microcarpa var. pusillifolia is different from them. The correlations between plant leaf concentrations and predicted gaseous concentrations were moderate, indicating that gaseous concentration did not influence the leaf concentration significantly.     

Multivariate analysis of the bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the marine pelagic food web from the southern part of the Baltic Sea,Poland

The concentration, pattern, bioaccumulation and biomagnification features of many chlorobiphenyl congeners including non- and mono-ortho chlorine substituted members have been determined in a pelagic food chain including mixed phyto- and zooplankton, herring (Clupea harengus), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and black cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) collected from the southern part of the Baltic Proper. TCDD (tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) toxic equivalents (TEQs) in plankton, herring, harbour porpoise and cormorants were 0.42, 5.3, 79 and 2,700 pg g(-1) lipid weight, respectively. Concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in plankton, herring, harbour porpoise and cormorants were 1.9, 120, 8700 and 2,100 ng g(-1) wet weight (210, 1,300, 10,000 and 42,000 ng g(-1) lipid weight) respectively. Herring, harbour porpoise and black cormorant apparently bioaccumulate many PCBs found in their food, and the values of the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for PCBs were approximately 10 in herring, 35 in harbour porpoise and up to 300 in breast muscle of cormorants. Harbour porpoise clearly is able to metabolize the most toxic non-ortho PCBs (no. 77, 126 and 169) and a few mono-ortho PCBs (no. 114, 123 and 156), while all non- and mono-ortho PCBs are bioaccumulated by herring. Penta-, hexa- and hepta-CBs were the dominatant homologue classes both in the muscle tissue and liver. PCB congeners nos. 201, 209, 172/192, 194 and 195 were characterized by the largest BAFs (between 100 and 300). Principal component analysis has been used to analyse the interdependences and differences in the CB congener accumulation patterns between the components of the investigated pelagic food web.