PCDDs/PCDFs and coplanar PCBs in eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different areas of the rivers Havel and Oder in the state of Brandenburg (Germany)

In 1996 forty-nine eels were caught from different locations along the rive rs Oder (Hohenwutzen and Schwedt) and from 11 locations along the Havel riv er. They were analysed for PCDDs/PCDFs and the coplanar PCBs (PCB 77, PCB 1 26, PCB 169). Their contribution to 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents were estimated . In case of PCDDs/PCDFs these amounted between 1.8 and 15.2 pg/g fat (mean 6.1 pg/g; median 5.2 pg/g), in case of coplanar PCBs between 2.4 and 170.5 pg/g fat (mean 47.7 pg/g; median 36.1 pg/g). Lakes which are associated wi th but not directly located at the main stream of the river Havel contribut ed much less to contamination of the eels than the river segments situated in the more urbanised or industrialised sites along the main river, (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.