Levels of organochlorine compounds in spotted dolphins from the Coiba archipelago, Panama

Blubber and skin samples from 63 spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) (18 males, 40 females and 5 of unknown sex) were collected by biopsy techniques in the waters of the Coiba archipelago. Blubber was analyzed for organochlorine compounds and skin for gender determination. Mean levels of HCB (hexachlorobenzene), tPCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) and tDDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) were 0.064, 2.30 and 6.4 mgkg(-1), respectively. These levels are low and are not considered to represent a threat to the S. attenuata population. No significant differences either in concentrations of HCB, tPCB and tDDT or in PCB profiles were observed between males and females. The ratio tDDT/tPCB was 2.69, indicating predominantly agrarian versus industrial activities in the area. The ratio ppDDE/tDDT was 0.83, a high figure that suggests both a local reduction of DDT inputs and a high rate of DDT degradation. Significant quantitative and qualitative differences were observed between two schools, suggesting intra-population heterogeneity in organochlorine exposure possibly due to demographic segregation.     

Organochlorine concentrations declined during 1987-2002 in western Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins, a coastal top predator

We collected blubber samples from bottlenose dolphins stranded on Spain's Mediterranean coasts over a 25-year period (1978-2002). Samples were analyzed to determine time trends in levels of: HCB (hexachlorobenzene), PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) and tDDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites). Overall, levels were high relative to other areas. This reflects both the ubiquity of organochlorine pollution in the western Mediterranean and the sampled species' coastal habit. There was a significant decline over the study period in the concentrations of all the compounds analyzed. However, the DDE/tDDT, which is indicative of DDT ageing, significantly increased. This suggests there has been no significant use of HCB, DDT or PCB in the region for a long time. It also indicates that the pollutant loads in the environment are gradually being reduced; either by degradation or by migration of the compounds to other regions. A comparison with dolphin species that have an oceanic distribution suggests that PCB decline at a comparable pace in coastal and offshore water bodies. However, the decline of tDDT is faster near the coast.     

High organochlorine accumulation in blubber of Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, from Brazilian coast and its use to establish geographical differences among populations

Blubber samples from 33 Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from three estuaries (Guanabara, Sepetiba/Ilha Grande and Paranaguá Bays) of Southern and Southeastern Brazil were analyzed for organochlorine compounds (DDTs, PCBs and HCB). The sampled individuals were incidentally captured in gillnet fishery between 1995 and 2005. The concentrations (in ng/g lipids) varied from 652 to 23 555 for ΣDDT; from 765 to 99 175 for ΣPCB; and from <4.4 to 156 for HCB. The results have shown that cetaceans from Brazil present organochlorine concentrations that are comparable to those reported for highly industrialized regions of Northern Hemisphere. Using discriminant analysis it was possible to verify that the dolphin populations from the three bays present different organochlorine accumulation patterns. This feature allows the use of this set of pollutants as an auxiliary tool for identification of different populations of the species off Brazilian Coast.     

Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from western European seas: geographical trends, causal factors and effects on reproduction and mortality

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blubber of female common dolphins and harbour porpoises from the Atlantic coast of Europe were frequently above the threshold at which effects on reproduction could be expected, in 40% and 47% of cases respectively. This rose to 74% for porpoises from the southern North Sea. PCB concentrations were also high in southern North Sea fish. The average pregnancy rate recorded in porpoises (42%) in the study area was lower than in the western Atlantic but that in common dolphins (25%) was similar to that of the western Atlantic population. Porpoises that died from disease or parasitic infection had higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) than animals dying from other causes. Few of the common dolphins sampled had died from disease or parasitic infection. POP profiles in common dolphin blubber were related to individual feeding history while those in porpoises were more strongly related to condition.     

Age trends and reproductive transfer of organochlorine compounds in long-finned pilot whales from the Faroe Islands

Total DDT and PCB concentrations were determined in blubber of 130 long-finned pilot whales, Globicephala melas (100 females and 30 males) from the Faroe Islands (northern north-east Atlantic). In males and immature females no relation was observed between age and organochlorine concentrations or the ratio of tDDT (total DDT)/PCB; in contrast, concentrations and ratios in mature females declined with age, which is attributed to reproductive transfer to their offspring during gestation and lactation. Relative abundance of DDE respective to tDDT increased in males and young females and decreased in mature females. Organochlorine transfer to offspring during lactation was found to represent about 60-100% of the mother's body load, while that occurring during gestation was estimated to be much lower, in the range 4-10% of mother's body load. Transfer rates tended to decrease with mother's age and were, consequently, much higher in primiparous females than in those that had already given birth. Transplacental rates were found to be consistent with the ratio between mother's body weight and neonatal body weight.     

Organochlorine levels in subcutaneous blubber biopsies of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean Sea

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT compounds were determined in subcutaneous blubber of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean Sea. From 1990 to 1993, 68 fin whale and 89 dolphin blubber biopsies were analysed. The whales were sampled while passing through the Ligurian Sea, whereas the dolphins were collected in different areas of the Mediterranean: the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. Total PCBs and DDTs were 5.5-7.1 ppm and 4.2-9.5 ppm, respectively, in the whales and 15.5-86.0 ppm and 15.6-63.5 ppm, respectively, in the dolphins. Thirty PCB congeners were identified for each sample, IUPAC numbers 153, 138, 187, 180 and 170 being the most abundant, totalling an average of 55% of total PCBs in the whale and 60% in the dolphin. The large differences in accumulation are related to position in the food chain. In striped dolphins significant differences were found in relation to sampling site, and in fin whales in relation to sex.     

Organohalogen contaminants and metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid and cerebellum gray matter in short-beaked common dolphins and Atlantic white-sided dolphins from the western North Atlantic

Concentrations of several congeners and classes of organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) and/or their metabolites, namely organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hydroxylated-PCBs (OH-PCBs), methylsulfonyl-PCBs (MeSO₂-PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants, and OH-PBDEs, were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of short-beaked common dolphins (n = 2), Atlantic white-sided dolphins (n = 8), and gray seal (n = 1) from the western North Atlantic. In three Atlantic white-sided dolphins, cerebellum gray matter (GM) was also analyzed. The levels of OCs, PCBs, MeSO₂-PCBs, PBDEs, and OH-PBDEs in cerebellum GM were higher than the concentrations in CSF. 4-OH-2,3,3′,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (4-OH-CB107) was the only detectable OH-PCB congener present in CSF. The sum (Σ) OH-PCBs/Σ PCB concentration ratio in CSF was approximately two to three orders of magnitude greater than the ratio in cerebellum GM for dolphins.     

Hair analysis: another approach for the assessment of human exposure to selected persistent organochlorine pollutants

Hair analysis was used for the assessment of exposure to organochlorine pollutants in specimens from Greece, Romania and Belgium. A simple method (using 3 N HCI as incubation reagent, liquid-liquid extraction with hexane/ dichloromethane (DCM), alumina/acid silica clean-up and GC-ECD/GC-MS analysis) was used for screening of specimens. The highest organochlorine load (up to 148 ng/g hair for the sum of PCB, DDT and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers) was found in samples from a group of Greek women with past occupational exposure to pesticides. DDTs were the main organochlorine pollutants in Greek samples (up to 70%), while in Belgian hair samples their contribution was reduced to 40%. PCB mean concentration was higher in Belgian specimens (up to 14 ng/g hair). Lindane (y-HCH) was the main HCH isomer found in the samples (up to 82% in the Greek samples). Contribution of p,p'-DDT to the sum of DDTs was higher in Greek samples and indicates recent exposure to technical DDT. Similar PCB 153/sum PCBs ratios were found for each of the three countries suggesting similar sources of pollution with PCBs (mainly dietary). Artificially coloured hair samples were found to have lower, but not statistically significant concentrations of organochlorine pollutants than the non-coloured hair.     

Organochlorine concentrations in franciscana dolphins, Pontoporia blainvillei, from Brazilian waters

Blubber samples were collected from ten franciscana dolphins either incidentally captured in fishing operations or stranded on São Paulo (SP) and Paraná (PR) states littoral, Southeastern and Southern Brazilian coast, respectively. Determination of PCB, DDT and HCB concentrations were performed by capillary gas chromatograph coupled to electron capture detector (ECD). ΣDDT, ΣPCB and HCB concentrations ranged from 264 ng g⁻¹ to 5811 ng g⁻¹ lipid, from 909 ng g⁻¹ to 5849 ng g⁻¹ lipid and from 10 ng g⁻¹ to 61 ng g⁻¹ lipid, respectively. Regarding DDTs, the distribution of the mean percentages decreased in the following order: p,p′-DDE > p,p′-DDD > p,p′-DDT. The ΣDDT/ΣPCB ratio varied between 0.27 and 0.42 in Northern and Central SP coast, while in Southern SP and PR coast the values were 1.6 and 1.9, respectively. Dissimilarities in ΣDDT/ΣPCB ratios point to different sources of organochlorine compounds to franciscana dolphins in the study area. Considering the endocrine disruptive action of organochlorine compounds, the concentrations found in franciscana dolphins from Brazilian waters may represent an additional obstacle to the conservation of this endangered cetacean species.     

Theoretical models to evaluate hazard due to organochlorine compounds (OCs) in Mediterranean striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

Many studies document the chemical stress related to organochlorine (OC) xenobiotics in Mediterranean cetaceans. The aim of this study was to establish a theoretical model to evaluate the hazard to Mediterranean striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) due to HCB, DDTs and PCB congeners. Differences in OC levels in blubber of stranded and free-ranging specimens enabled us to evaluate the hazard associated with different chlorinated xenobiotics, taking the live population as control sample, assumed to be in good health. For the most toxic compounds, with teratogenic, mutagenic, carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting capacity, we indicate levels beyond which there can be toxicological hazard for the striped dolphin. Using a mathematical formula derived from knowledge of the length and age of 62 stranded specimens, the age of dolphins was estimated and sexual maturity was identified at nine years. This evaluation was important for understanding differences in contaminant burden between males and females.     

Organochlorine contaminants in eggs of the yellow-legged gull (Larus cachinnans michahellis) in the North Eastern Mediterranean: is this gull a suitable biomonitor for the region?

Levels of eight PCB congeners and thirteen organochlorine pesticides were measured in eggs sampled at four yellow-legged gull colonies from the Aegean Sea (NorthEastern Mediterranean) in 1997. There were no significant differences among colony areas in the median concentrations in any of the pollutants whereas cluster analyses did not generally reveal reasonable pollution patterns. The maximum concentrations of four congeners were found at Kinaros colony and of nine compounds were found at Lipsos colony. Fingerprints in both groups were similar in all areas. Of PCBs, congener 28, 118, 138, 180 and of pesticides beta-BHC and 2,4'-DDD were prominently dominant suggesting a particular pollution pattern in this region. Statistically significant correlations were found between most of the higher PCBs in all areas studied. The DDT metabolites correlated mostly with other OCs. We suggest that regional pollution by both groups is not adequately reflected in the eggs of this gull probably due to its extensive scavenging habits and, though information is needed from more colonies, it seems to be a poor biomonitor for organochlorines in this region.     

Occurrence of PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in the Tonghui River of Beijing, China

Tonghui River, a typical river in Beijing, People's Republic of China, was studied for its water and sediment quality, by determining the levels of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 18 organochlorine pesticides in water and sediment samples. Total PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides concentrations in water varied from 192.5 to 2651 ng/l, 31.58-344.9 ng/l and 134.9-3788 ng/l, respectively. The total PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides concentrations in surficial sediments were 127-928 ng/g, 0.78-8.47 ng/g and 1.79-13.98 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The results showed that the concentration of these selected organic pollutants in sediment was higher than those in surface water. It may be due to the fact that organic hydrophobic pollutants tend to stay in the sediments. The PAHs were dominated by 2-, 3-ring components in water samples and by 3- and 4-ring compounds in sediment. For organochlorines, alpha-HCH, delta-HCH, Heptachlor, Endosulfan II, DDT are the major organochlorine pesticides in water while Heptachlor, Dieldrin and DDE composed of 95% of total organochlorine pesticides in sediment. For HCHs (HCHs=alpha-HCH+beta-HCH+gamma-HCH+delta-HCH), the predominance of alpha-HCH of total HCHs were clearly observed in water and sediment. PCB18, PCB31 and PCB52 were predominant in water, on average these compounds collectively accounted for 67% of total PCBs. But in sediment, the predominant compounds were PCB28, PCB31 and PCB153, which accounted for 71% of total PCBs in sediment. The levels of micro pollutants in our study areas were compared with other studies.     

Organochlorine residues in odontocete species from the southeast coast of India

Blubber from bottle-nose dolphins, spinner dolphins, humpback dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, Stenella longirostris and Sousa chinensis) were collected from the Bay of Bengal (southeast coast of India) and analyzed for the organochlorine pesticides hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDTs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). All nine specimens analyzed contained considerable levels of all the three chemical classes where DDT was in the range of 3330-23330 ng/g; HCHs in the range of 95-765 ng/g; and PCBs in the range of 210-1220 ng/g (wet weight basis). The reasons for this and the variations in the isomer pattern of HCHs and DDT and its metabolites in marine mammal tissues are discussed.     

Organic compounds temporal trends at some invertebrate species from the Balearics, Western Mediterranean

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlore diphenyl trichloretane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH or lindane) were determined in tissue of marine benthic invertebrates such as Mytilus galloprovincialis, Chamelea gallina, Venus verrucosa, Lithophaga lithophaga and Paracentrotus lividus. Species were selected due to their habitat, trophic level, feeding behaviour and their consumption. Invertebrate species were systematically sampled from December 1996 to December 2005 from several sites along the Balearic Islands. The highest concentrations of PCBs (785ng/g lipid) were found in M. galloprovincialis while the lowest concentrations were found in the sea-urchin P. lividus (193ng/g lipid). Among the 7 PCB quantified congeners the higher values are mainly obtained for CB138 and CB153. All bivalves presented higher PCBs contents than the sea-urchin P. lividus are possibly linked with the bioaccumulation process of POPs throughout the food web and to differential detoxifying mechanisms. The concentration of SigmaDDT exceeds that of HCB and gamma-HCH at all species and sampling stations. DDT concentrations ranged from 0.4ng/g ww at the bivalve C. gallina in 2002, to values of 15.8ng/g ww at the bivalve L. lithophaga in 1998. The values obtained for the organic compounds (HCH, HCB, PCBs, DDT) depend upon the place and year of sampling and are compared to values found by other authors for the mussel M. galloprovincialis in other Mediterranean areas. gamma-HCH and HCB were found in lower concentrations than the other POPs.     

Chlorinated hydrocarbons in the tissues of South Polar Skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliea) from Ross Sea, Antarctica

High rates of egg infertility and embryo death in a colony of South Polar Skuas breeding in the Antarctic were similar to those in polluted North Atlantic populations of the Great Skua. Such loss could not be linked to factors such as organochlorine pollutants, as levels of DDE and PCBs in the contents of skua eggs from the population were only a small fraction of those in polluted skua populations from the Northern Hemisphere. Average eggshell thickness for skuas nesting on Ross Island has shown no significant change since the introduction of DDT. Concentrations of DDE and PCBs in South Polar Skuas were 13 and 22 times higher, respectively, than those in the eggs of sympatric Adélie Penguins, and this probably reflects the greater exposure of skuas to pollution when they migrate north of the Antarctic Convergence in winter. Residues in liver tissue showed a similar trend, and a higher rate of mixed function oxidase induction in skua liver compared to that of penguins is consistent with the trends seen in pollutant levels. The same PCB congener predominated in both skua and penguin samples. Comparisons with historical residue data suggest that global levels of DDT residues are declining.     

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in some edible marine organisms from the Central Adriatic Sea

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) were found in tissue of marine organisms such as Mediterranean mussel, Norway lobster, red mullet, common cuttle-fish, European flying squid, European anchovy, European pilchard and Atlantic mackerel, coming from two sites along the Abruzzo coast of the Adriatic Sea. Species were selected due to their habitat, trophic level, feeding behaviour and their use in the Italian diet. Mussels, filter feeder and sedentary organisms, were used in order to test water pollution whereas Norway lobster and red mullet (benthic fish) were used in order to test sediment pollution. The concentration of ?PCBs exceeded that of ?OCs in the samples analysed. The highest concentrations of ?PCBs (1415 ng/g lipid weight) and ?OCs (507 ng/g lipid weight) were found in pilchard while the lowest concentrations of the same pollutants were found in cephalopods. Our results have shown that species such as anchovy, pilchard and mackerel, were the most polluted due to their location at the last level of the trophic chain. All samples contained different concentrations of PCBs and among these, congeners 153 and 138 were the most representative. Among the OCs, except for the cuttle-fish, the highest concentrations were found for p,p(')-DDE and p,p(')-DDD that are metabolite of DDT. The prevailing DDE presence, compared to DDT (high DDE/DDT ratio), suggested that the biotransformation rate of pollutants was very efficacious in fish and above all in crustaceans. Results have also been interpreted in terms of geographical distribution and organisms' biological cycle. None of the samples analysed exceeded the tolerance limits established by the OCs Italian legislation.     

Organochlorine pesticide residue and PCBs in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) incidentally caught in Scandinavian waters

During Norwegian and Danish harbour porpoise projects 1987-1991, subcutaneous blubber samples of 34 male harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were collected. Animals from three geographical locations, ranging from 56 degrees N, 12 degrees E to 71 degrees N, 26 degrees E, were chosen in order to study the organochlorine (OC) contamination in this species inhabiting the northeastern part of the North Atlantic Ocean, the northern North Sea and Kattegat, at the locations of Tufjord, Vestlandet and Gilleleje, respectively. Analytical standards used consisted of the industrial chemicals PCBs (22 individual PCB congeners and 6 industrial mixtures which contained 104 PCB congeners or group of congeners) and HCB, and the organochlorine pesticides DDT, HCH, the cyclodienes endrin, dieldrin and the chlordane metabolites oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor, and heptachlor epoxide. A total of 16 PCB congeners or groups of congeners, all the DDT metabolites except o,p'-DDD, and all the pesticides were detected in all animals. The concentrations of sigmaPCB (sum of concentrations of 47 detected PCB congeners) and sigmaDDT (sum of concentrations of all DDT detected compounds) ranged from 3.7-65.3 and 3.2-45.0 microg g(-1) lipid weight, respectively. The range of mean concentrations of dieldrin, endrin and trans-nonachlor was 1-3 microg g(-1), while mean concentrations of HCHs, heptachlor epoxide, and HCB were <1 microg g(-1). No significant variation in PCB congener pattern was apparent between geographical areas. The major PCB congeners nos 147/123, 153, 138/163/164, 182/187 and 180 at Gilleleje, Vestlandet and Tufjord represented 53%, 45% and 44% of sigmaPCB, respectively. A significant difference was found between the number of PCB congeners in blubber of newborn and older porpoises. This might indicate the presence of a blood/placenta barrier and/or selective mammary transport of PCBs with specific structures. A significant OC accumulation with age was apparent, with the exception of HCB and HCHs. Geographical differences in the levels of OCs were apparent for all compounds except for dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide. Significantly higher levels of chlordane metabolites (trans-nonachlor and oxychlordane) and endrin were found in the group of animals from the northern location Tufjord, while sigmaDDT, p,p'-DDTs, HCHs and PCBs were highest in the group of animals from the southern location Gilleleje. Highest levels of the o,p'-substituted DDTs were found in specimens from the middle location Vestlandet. These findings indicate little or no regular migration of harbour porpoise between these three locations. No correlations were found between OC concentrations and blubber thickness. Although mean values of sigmaDDT and sigmaPCB were in the lower end of previously reported levels in harbour porpoise from adjacent waters in the eastern part of the North Atlantic Ocean and along the coasts of North America, these levels are relatively high. The organochlorine concentrations in harbour porpoises in the present study were 2-3 times higher than corresponding OC levels detected in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from the same areas.     

Organochlorine levels in viperine snake Natrix maura carcasses from the ebro delta (NE Spain): Sexual and size-related differences

Organochlorine compounds (PCBs, DDTs and HCB) in carcasses from a population of the Viperine Snake (Natrix maura) living in the Ebro Delta were analyzed. This is a wetland area on the Mediterranean coast where the natural ecosystem has been partially substituted by rice fields. High levels of pollutants (mainly DDTs and PCBs) have been detected in several species living in this area, due to the production of these compounds by a former industrial activity upstream as well as agricultural activity in the Delta. Organochlorines were analyzed in adult males and females, and in immature snakes. DDTs (mainly p,p′-DDE) were the most abundant pollutant present. The DDT/PCB ratio was higher than expected, which is consistent with the position of the Viperine Snake in the trophic web as well as the type of prey consumed. Immature snakes had more organochlorines than adults. However, the broad range of concentrations shown by immature snakes, suggested that part of the organochlorine load is transferred from gravid females to their eggs. In adults, organochlorine concentrations increased with carcass weight in both males and females. This increase was higher in males since females lost contaminants through fat investment during vitellogenesis. Seasonally, PCBs and DDTs levels increased in spring when snakes showed higher feeding activity, whereas higher levels of HCB were present at the end of summer, when the river input increased. Furthermore, HCB does not seem to biomagnify well across the trophic chain. Organochlorine concentrations in Viperine Snake carcasses were high since: 1) the dry tissue had less than 5% of fat, and 2) snakes were caught many years after the DDT ban, supporting the fact that cleaning of the ecosystem does not occur easily. These results indicate that snakes are adequate as indicators of the contamination in natural ecosystems but sex and body size of the samples should be taken into account for interpretation of results.     

EOX and organochlorine compounds in fish and ringed seal samples from Lake Ladoga, Russia

Information about the pollution of Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe, has been controversial. Various effluents and drainage waters affect the quality of the lake water. Wastewaters have caused eutrophication of parts of Lake Ladoga, but concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in the lake's food webs are poorly understood. In this study, concentrations of some organochlorine compounds, chlorophenols (CPs), and extractable organic halogen (EOX) were determined in smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), vendace (Coregonus albula), pikeperch (Lucioperca lucioperca), whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), and the Ladoga seal (Phoca hispida ladogensis) from the northern part of the lake. The concentrations of organochlorine compounds in fish were low. Concentrations were between 0.07 and 0.15, 0.65 and 1.0, and 0.29 and 0.48 mg/kg lipids for hexachlorobenzene, total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and p,p'-DDE, respectively. The results indicated biomagnification from smelt and vendace to pikeperch and ringed seal. In ringed seals, concentrations of PCB and DDT were 12 and 29 times higher than in fish used by ringed seals as major food sources.     

Organochlorine bioaccumulation and biomarkers levels in culture and wild white seabream (Diplodus sargus)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which can accumulate in the adipose fish tissues, can enter the human food chain through the consumption of fish, and cause risk to health. The use of chemical analysis, and biochemical and cellular responses is a way to detect the impact of pollutants in aquatic systems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of organochlorine compounds (polychlorinated biphenyls - PCB and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites - tDDT) in, wild and cultivated, white seabream (Diplodus sargus), and also its biological effects that were evaluated by assessing the activity of biotransformation enzymes and genotoxic effects. To achieve that we have sampled five different size classes (I - 13 g, II - 64 g, III - 143 g, IV - 315 g and V - 441 g) of white seabream from a local aquaculture, and also a group of wild fish (375g) in order to compare accumulation and responses between cultured and wild fish. White seabream, cultured and wild, presented low levels of organochlorine content, both in liver and in muscle. Wild white seabream, in comparison to cultured ones at the marketable size, showed lower organochlorine accumulation. Biotransformation enzymes showed negative correlations with organochlorine levels in liver. Micronucleous numbers revealed that wild white seabream are not so exposed to genotoxic compounds as cultured ones.