Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in selected fish species as an indicator of the pollution of aquatic resources in Vojvodina, Yugoslavia

Abstract

Long term pollution of selected aquatic resources of Vojvodina with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and organochlorine pesticides (PCP's) has led to high degree of bioaccumulation of the above chemicals along the food chain. This paper documents the bioaccumulation in two fish species commonly found in rivers and canals of Vojvodina, common carp (Cyprinus Carpio) and pike (Exos lucinus). Samples of fish, sediment and water were collected from the Danube, Sava and Tisa rivers and a fish farm 'Ecka' which is supplied with water from the river Tisa and river Begej. All samples were analysed by highly sensitive capillary column GC using EC detectors. Samples were analysed for a spectrum of compounds and are presented here as total PCB's and OCP's. The results show that the studied compounds are present in water samples at very low concentrations (PCB's) in concentrations at or below the limit of detection, OCP's in concentrations below the legally allowable concentrations by Yugoslav norms). The sediment samples contain the studied compounds at significantly higher concentrations but still within the expectable range. Fish tissue contained elevated concentrations, and especially so the tissue of the top predator in the food chain, the Pike, showing that bioaccumulation has occurred. Of special concern are the extremely high concentrations of PCB's in the tissue of fish samples collected from river Sava indicating the still existing effects of pollution by PCB's in the watershed of the river Sava.