CHLORINATED-HYDROCARBON (HCB, DDTS AND PCBS) LEVELS IN CETACEANS STRANDED ALONG THE ITALIAN COASTS - AN OVERVIEW

Concentrations of HCB, DDTs and PCBs in the tissues and organs of ceta ceans (Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Balaenoptera physalu s, Steno bredanensis, Grampus griseus and Globicephala melaena) strand ed along the Italian coasts in the period 1987-1993 are reported. The values are compared between species and between specimens of the same species. Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CH) levels were found to increase in relation to the quantity and type of lipids in each tissue and organ. Differences in accumulation encountered in the different species are principally due to different feeding habitats. Remarkable differences found between males and females of each species confirm that during ge station and lactation, females undergo disintoxication by passing much of their total burden of CHs to their young.