Polychlorinated biphenyls and some pesticides in perch (Perca Fluviatilis) from inland waters of Latvia

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT - related substances, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were analysed in perch (Perca fluviatilis) from Latvian lakes and rivers. DDE is present in the highest concentrations in all samples; 62–170 ng/g lipid weight in perch from rural areas and 460 ng/g in perch from the Riga area. Individual dominating PCB congeners were in the range 16–45 ng/g and 200–210 ng/g, respectively. The degree of contamination of rural areas in Latvia of these organohalogen substances is in the same range as in background areas in Sweden. Riga, the major urban area in Latvia, is shown to be more polluted with PCBs than other areas in Latvia.