Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in three fish species from an estuary in the southeastern coast of Brazil

Chemosphere. 2013 Mar;90(9):2435-43. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.11.001. Epub 2012 Dec 1.

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyls Ethers (PBDEs) are two highly lipophilic classes of persistent organic pollutants able to resist degradation and with the ability to bioaccumulate through the food chain. In Brazil, there are still few studies on PCBs and PBDEs in aquatic organisms. In this study, we determined the levels of PBDEs and PCBs in three different fish species from the Ilha Grande Bay, located in the southern state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PBDEs levels were very low, with values below the limit of quantification. PCBs concentrations ranged from 2.29 to 27.60 ng g(-1) ww in muscle and from 3.41 to 34.22 ng g(-1) ww in liver of the three investigated fish species. Significant positive correlations were established between PCBs concentration and fish biometric variables in mullet (length and lipid content) and a statistically significant change between seasons in croaker was observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Estuaries*
  • Fishes / metabolism*
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / metabolism*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / metabolism*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*

Substances

  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls