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PCB congeners, DDTs and hexachlorobenzene in Antarctic fish from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2004

Silvano Focardi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Universita' di Siena, Via delle Cerchia 3, 53100 Siena, Italy
L. Lari
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Universita' di Siena, Via delle Cerchia 3, 53100 Siena, Italy
L. Marsili
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Universita' di Siena, Via delle Cerchia 3, 53100 Siena, Italy

Abstract

Chlorinated hydrocarbons were measured in seven species of Antarctic fish (Pagothenia bernacchii, P. hansoni, Trematomus centronotus, T. newnesi, Chionodraco hamatus, Cygnodraco mawsoni, and Gymnodraco acuticeps) from in the Ross Sea near Terra Nova Bay (74°40'S 164°10'E). Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pp' DDT and its derivatives DDE and DDD, and about 20 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)were found in muscle and liver. Levels of pp′ DDE were positively correlated with body length in P. bernacchii and the plot of concentrations showed higher values in males than females of the same body weight class. The results confirm the presence of these chlorinated hydrocarbons in the Antarctic marine food chain and an increase of PCBs with respect to DDTs. The “fingerprint” of C. hamatus is different from that of other Antarctic organisms and of fish from other parts of the world, suggesting possible metabolic differences.

Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1992

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