TOXAPHENE AND OTHER ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN FISH AND SEDIMENT FROM LAKE XOLOTLAN, NICARAGUA

The levels of 11 organochlorine pesticides were analyzed in samples of two fish species (Sarotherodon mossambicus and Cichlasoma managuense) and sediments. Due to a toxaphene-producing factory located on the sh ore of Lake Xolotlan, toxaphene was detected in more than 80% of the f ish specimens and in all the sediment samples analyzed. Alpha-BHC, hep tachlor, heptachlor-epoxide, aldrin and dieldrin were detected neither in fish nor in sediment samples. DDT or its metabolites DDE or DDD (S IGMADDT) were present in almost all the fish and sediment samples but in low concentrations. The presence of beta-BHC and lindane (tau-BHC) in fish and lindane in sediment was insignificant.