Occurrence of organochlorine contaminants in tissues of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae

Abstract

Gas chromatography coupled with electrolytic conductivity detection and electron capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry have been used to identify and quantify organochlorine xenobiotics in tissues from two specimens of the living coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae. Compounds identified include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), 4,4′-DDT and its metabolites 4,4′-DDD and 4,4′-DDE. Levels of these compounds in the specimens were observed to be generally related to tissue lipid content. Highest concentrations of the xenobiotics were present in the lipid-rich swim bladder, followed by adipose tissue and liver. Levels ranged from 89 to 510 μg kg−1 for PCB and 210 to 840 μg kg−1 for ∑-DDT (including DDD and DDE) on a wet-weight basis. Organochlorine concentrations in relatively lipid-poor tissues, i.e. muscle and kidney, were lower. Parent DDT contributed significantly to the ∑-DDT burden. PCB congeners containing five to seven chlorines were most prevalent. Component distributions did not match those present in common commercial PCB formulations. However, major congeners observed were similar to those reported for other fishes.