Organochlorine compounds in fish off the Antarctic Peninsula

Various antarctic fish species, particularly Chaenocephalus aceratus, Champsocephalus gunnari and Gobionotothen gibberifrons, from 1987 and 1991 were analysed for 10 nonpolar xenobiotic compounds. Concentrations expressed on the basis of extractable organic matter (EOM) were nearly identical in liver and adipose tissue. They were also independent of fish weight. Concentrations of HCB, which were as high as in Limanda limanda of the North Sea (20 ng/g EOM), are interpreted as results of cold condensation. p,p′-DDE, trans-nonachlor and PCB congeners 153, 138, 180 ranged one to two orders of magnitude lower than in North Sea fish. In addition, nonachlor III, octachlorobornane and mirex were roughly quantified. A residual compound comparable in concentration to octachlorobornane and not yet described in the literature was tentatively identified. From chromatographic and mass spectrometric data the elemental composition C10H3OCl7 was derived. p,p′-DDE and the three PCB congeners increased in Antarctica between 1987 and 1991 due to global redistribution.