ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE-RESIDUES AND PCBS IN EELS (ANGUILLA-ANGUILLA) FROM SOME BRITISH FRESH-WATER REEDBEDS

Organochlorine pesticide residues and PCBs were measured in bulked sam ples of whole eels collected in 1991 from 11 reedbed sites of wildlife conservation importance in Britain. Eels from some sites had only tra ce amounts of dieldrin, p,p-DDE and PCBs. Maximum concentrations were 0.21 mg kg-1 for dieldrin, 0.27 mg kg-1 for p,p-DDE and 0.91mg kg-1 fo r PCBs (fresh weight). Concentrations of contaminants in eels from ree dbeds were considered in general to be lower than in eels from rivers, but nevertheless concentrations were considered to be sufficiently hi gh at some sites to adversely affect top carnivores such as the otter.