CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS IN THE BLUBBER OF A SEAL (PHOCA-CASPICA) FROM THE CASPIAN SEA

Residues of DDT amd its metabolites, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), ch lordane, toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and hexachlorobe nzene (HCB) were determined by GC/ECD and GC/MS in the blubber of a se al (Phoca caspica) from the coast of Iran on the Caspian Sea. The orga nochlorine pattern was dominated by DDT and its metabolites while PCBs (65 PCB congeners including non-ortho PCBs were quantified) only play ed a minor role. The high content of beta-HCH determined by GC/ECD and confirmed by GC/MS was interpreted to be caused by local sources. On the other hand, residues of chlordane compounds were correlated to atm ospheric long-range transport.