ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES AND HEXACHLOROBENZENE IN TISSUES OF FISH AND INVERTEBRATES CAUGHT NEAR A SEWAGE OUTFALL

Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and hexachlorobenzene (HCB ) were determined in 16 fish, 1 mollusc and 1 crustacean species livin g near a cliff-face sewage outfall. For the 15 organochlorine compound s scanned, HCB, chlordane, dieldrin and SIGMADDT were recorded in high est concentrations. There was considerable variation in concentrations between muscle and liver and between species. Livers had higher conce ntrations of organochlorines and a higher percentage lipid than muscle . The highest concentrations were recorded in livers of the elasmobran ch and tetraodontiform fishes. Organochlorines were only recorded at l ow concentrations in muscle, often at or near detection limits. No org anochlorines were detected in the two invertebrate species.