Organochlorine Compounds in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from Patagonia Argentina

Abstract

The Negro River is the most important hydrological system of Patagonia, Argentina, drains a watershed of 140,000 km2. Its main economic activities are agriculture and industry, representing potential sources of organochlorine compounds (OCCs): organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and PCBs, respectively. These pollutants are persistent, ubiquitous and hydrophobics and are accumulated in the lipid fraction of biota. Fish are excellent biomonitors of pollution because incorporate COCs from water and through diet, and represent different trophic levels. The aims of the present study were to investigate OCCs levels in wild common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Cyprynidae) focusing on: a) the distribution pattern of OCPs and PCBs in gills, gonads, liver, muscle, and stomach content, b) the potential of common carp as indicator of aquatic OCCs pollution, and c) the evaluation of residues in gills and stomach content to discuss different input pathways of OCCs. HCHs, Chlordanes, DDTs, Endosulfan, Heptachlors, Drines and PCBs were quantified by GC-ECD. The distribution of OCCs (ng.g–1 lipid) was gills> gonads> liver> muscle> stomach content. Endosulfan accounted for 64% of OCCs in gills while, DDTs, PCBs and Chlordanes predominated in the stomach content suggesting the incorporation of more hydrophilic pollutants from the water column and those most persistent and hydrophobic from the diet.