Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDTs (p,p′-DDE +p,p′-DDT) were quantitated in four species of antarctic fish collected around the Japanese Antarctic Research Station during January to December 1981. PCBs ranged between 0.08 and 0.77 ng/g and DDTs from 0.3 to 1.9 ng/g, wet weight basis in whole body homogenates. InPagothenia borchgrevinki, the largest sample (N=21), both classes of chlorinated hydrocarbons increased linearly with body weight. Analysis of PCB isomers and congeners by mass fragmentography showed greater retention of the more highly chlorinated biphenyls in larger specimens. The bottom dwellingTrematomus bernacchii andT. hansoni revealed greater concentrations of highly chlorinated biphenyls than the surface dwellingP. borchgrevinki. In general, the concentrations of PCBs and DDTs in antarctic fish were very low compared to other open ocean water fish reported in the literature; this agreed with atmospheric and hydrospheric concentrations of PCBs and DDTs in antarctic regions where low levels were reported.
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Subramanian, B.R., Tanabe, S., Hidaka, H. et al. DDTs and PCB isomers and congeners in antarctic fish. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 12, 621–626 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01060743
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01060743