Residues of persistent organochlorine compounds in selected aquatic ecosystems of Vojvodina (Yugoslavia)

Abstract

In this paper, the concentration of a wide range of persistent organochlorine compounds α-, β-, γ-, hexachlorocyclohexane Σ-HCH, p,p'DDE, o,p'DDE, p,p'DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the aquatic environments of the river Danube, Tisa, Lake Palic, and fish-pond Ecka are reported. The residues of organochlorine insecticides -OCI and PCBs in water, sediments, fish muscle and eggs of aquatic birds were analysed. These data show the serious contamination of selected aquatic ecosystems (Danube, Tisa, Lake Palic and fish-pond Ecka) of Vojvodina. Because of the concentration of these compounds at top levels, fish, eggs of aquatic birds and sediments are an excellent indicator for detecting trace organic compounds whose presence in water would be difficult to measure directly. The residues of OCI were determined by GC-ECD. Polychlorinated biphenyls - PCB congeners were quantified by high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC-ECD).