Persistent organochlorine residues and toxic evaluation of polychlorinated biphenyls in sharks from the Mediterranean Sea (Italy)

Mar Pollut Bull. 2001 Dec;42(12):1323-9. doi: 10.1016/s0025-326x(01)00142-4.

Abstract

Persistent organochlorines such as polychlorinated biphenyls including coplanar congeners, DDT compounds and HCB were measured in different tissues (muscle, liver and eggs) of two Mediterranean shark species: namely Centrophorus granulosus and Squalus blainvillei. The concentrations of organochlorines in the tissues and organs of both species were in the order DDTs > PCBs > HCB. The highest values of DDTs, PCBs and HCB were found in liver followed by eggs and muscle. Among DDTs the compound found in greatest concentration was p,p'-DDE. The PCB profiles were dominated by congeners 138, 153, and 180. The isomers with higher TEQs values were non- and mono-ortho congeners than di-ortho ones in muscle, liver and eggs of both species. Among the non-ortho, PCB 126 was the major contributing individual to the total TEQs in both species.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DDT / analysis
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Hexachlorobenzene / analysis
  • Insecticides / analysis*
  • Isomerism
  • Italy
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • Muscles / chemistry
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Organ Specificity
  • Ovum / chemistry
  • Ovum / metabolism
  • Pesticide Residues / analysis*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis*
  • Sharks / metabolism*
  • Species Specificity
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Insecticides
  • Pesticide Residues
  • Hexachlorobenzene
  • DDT
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls