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

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). Hexachloroben...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Focardi, Silvano, Lari, L., Marsili, L.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1992
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102092000233
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102092000233
Description
Summary: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.