Organochlorine residues in deep-sea organisms from Suruga Bay, Japan

Residue levels of persistent organochlorines in deep-sea organisms collected from Suruga Bay, Japan, were determined. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were the predominant group of organochlorines ranging in concentrations from 380 to 2800 ng g−1 on a lipid weight basis. DDTs (DDT and its metabolises) were the next most abundant organochlorine compounds followed by CHLs (chlordane compounds), HCHs (hexachlorocyclo-hexanes) and HCB (hexachlorobenzene). In comparison with coastal shallow water organisms, higher concentrations of HCHs were found in deep-sea organisms, while no significant difference was noted for other organochlorines. Organochlorine residue levels in Suruga Bay were comparatively lower than those in other deep-sea organisms reported elsewhere. The deep-sea organisms showed no consistent trend between organochlorine concentrations and food chain relationships. Lipid-dependent accumulation of organochlorines by equilibrium partitioning may be attributable to this residue pattern. Among DDT compounds, p,p′-DDE was the highest in most deep-sea organisms. Trans-nonachlor and β-HCH were the major constituents of CHLs and HCHs, respectively, in these organisms.