Abstract
Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites, HCH isomers and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were determined in fish and birds from different locations in the Biobio river basin (central Chile). Samples collected near the mouth of the river contained high concentrations of PCBs, reflecting the massive use of these xenobiotics in the urban and industrial areas of Concepcion and Talcauano. Samples collected in the central part of the basin contained very high concentrations of lindane that coincide with the widespread use of lindane-based pesticides (purified γ-HCH) in this area. DDT was distributed homogeneously throughout the basin, except at Laguna Icalma, the source of the river in the Andes. Most PCB residues in fish and birds consisted of congeners between penta- and hepta-chlorobiphenyls. In fish, the predominant congeners were the pentachlorobiphenyl 23′44′5 (IUPAC number 118) and the hexachlorobiphenyl 22′344′55′ (PCB-153); in birds 22′44′55′ (PCB-180) prevailed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amodio-Cocchieri, R. and Arnese, A.: 1988, ‘Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Fish from Southern Italian Rivers”, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 40, 233–239.
Ballschmiter, K. and Zell, M.: 1980, ‘Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) by Glass Capillary Gas Chromatography’, Fresenius Z. Analyt. Chem. 302, 20–31.
Becker, P. H.: 1989, ‘Seabirds as Monitor Organisms of Contaminants along the German North Sea Coast’, Helgolämder Meeresunter 43, 395–403.
Blumton, A. K., Fraser, J. D., Young, R. W., Goodbred, S., Porter, S. L. and Luukkonen, D. L.: 1990, ‘Pesticide and PCB Residues for Loggerhead Shrikes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, 1985–1988’, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 45, 697–702.
Corsolini, S., Focardi, S., Kannan, K., Tanabe, S., Borrell, A. and Tatsukawa, R.: 1995, ‘Congener Profile and Toxicity Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Dolphins, Sharks and Tuna Fish from Italian Coastal Waters’, Mar. Environ. Res. 40: 33–53.
Crivelli, A. J., Focardi, S., Fossi, C., Leonzio, C., Massi, A. and Renzoni, A.: 1989, ‘Trace Elements and Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Eggs of Pelecanus crispus, a World Endangered Bid Species Nesting at Lake Mikri Prespa, North-western Greece’, Environ. Pollut. 61, 235–247.
Elliot, J. E., Bitler, R. W., Norstrom, R. J. and Whitehead, P. E.: 1989, ‘Environmental Contaminants and reproductive Success of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) in British Columbia, 1986–87’, Environ. Pollut. 59, 91–114.
Focardi, S., Lari, L. and Marsili, L.: 1992, ‘PCB Congeners, DDTs and Hexachlorobenzene in Antarctic Fish from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea)’, Antarctic Science 4, 151–154.
Focardi, S., Leonzio, C. and Fossi, C.: 1988, ‘Variations in Polychlorinated Biphenyls Congener Composition in Water Birds in Relation to Position in the Food Chain’, Environ. Pollut. 52, 243–255.
Hebert, C. E., Weseloh, D. W., Kot, I. and Glooschenko, V.: 1994, ‘Organochlorine Contaminants in a Terrestrial Foodweb on the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada 1987–89’, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26, 356–366.
Janz, D. M., Metcalfe, T. L., Metcalfe, C. D. and Haffner, G. D.: 1992, ‘Relative Concentration of Cytochrome P450-active Organochlorine Compounds in Liver and Muscle of Rainbow Trout from Lake Ontario’, J. Great Lakes Res. 18, 759–765.
Kannan, K., Tanabe, S., Williams, R. J. and Tatsukawa, R.: 1994, ‘Persistent Organochlorine Residues in Foodstuffs from Australia, Papue New Guinea and Salomon Islands: Contamination Levels and Human Dietary Exposure’, Sci. Total Environ. 153, 29–49.
King, K. A., Custer, T. W. and Quinn, J. S.: 1991, ‘Effects of Mercury, Selenium and Organochlorine Contaminants on Reproduction of Forster's Terns and Black Skimmers Nesting in a Contaminated Texas Bay’, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 20, 32–40.
Kucklick, J. R., Bidleman, T. F., McConnell, L. L., Walla, M. D. and Ivanov, G. P.: 1994, ‘Organochlorines in the Water and Biota of Lake Baikal, Siberia’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 28, 31–37.
Lindberg, P., Odsjö, T. and Reutergardh, L.: 1985, ‘Residues Levels of Polychlorobiphenyls, ΣDDT and Mercury in Bird Species Commonly Preyed Upon by the Peregrin Falcon (Falcon peregrinus Tunst.) in Sweden’, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 14, 203–212.
Longanathan, B. G., Tanabe, S., Tanaka, H., Watanabe, S., Miyazaki, N., Amano, M. and Tatsukawa, R.: 1990, ‘Comparison of Organochlorine Residue Levels in the Striped Dolphin from Western North Pacific, 1978–79. and 1986’, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 21, 435–439.
Mineau, P., Fox, G. A., Norstrom, R. J., Weseloh, D. W., Hallen, D. J. and Ellenton, J. A. 1984, ‘Using the Herring Gull to Monitor Levels and Effects of Organochlorine Contamination in the Canadian Great Lakes’, in Nriagu, J. O. and Simmons, S. (eds.), Toxic Contaminants in the Great Lakes, Wiley, Chichester.
Mugachiam, J. C., Kanja, L. and Maitne, T. E.: 1992, ‘Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Estuarine Fish from the Athi River, Kenya’, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 49, 199–206.
Muir, D. C. G., Ford, C. A., Grift, N. P., Metner, D. A. and Lockhart, W. L.: 1990, ‘Geographic Variation of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Burbot (Lota lota) from Remote Lakes and Rivers in Canada’, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 19, 530–542.
Ober, A., Valdivia, M. and Santa Maria, I.: 1987, ‘Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Chilean Fish and Shellfish Species’, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 38, 528–533.
Pantoja, S., Pastene, L., Becerra, J., Solva, M. and Gallardo, V. A.: 1984, ‘DDTs in balaenopterids (Cetacea) from the Chilean Coast’, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 15, 451.
Pantoja, S., Pastene, L., Becerra, J., Solva, M. and Gallardo, V. A.: 1985, ‘Lindane, Aldrin and Dieldrin in Some Chilean Cetacea’, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 16, 255.
Pesut-Mikincic, M., Imic, B., Crnojevic, T. and Kniewald, J.: 1987, ‘Lindane Effects on Testosterone Metabolism in Neuroendocrine Organs of Cockerel and Female Turkey’, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 38, 911–916.
Ramesh, A., Tanabe, S., Kannan, K., Subramanian, A.N., Kumaran, P.L. and Tatsukawa, R.: 1992, ‘Characteristic Trend on Persistent Organichlorine Contamination in Wildlife from a Tropical Agricultural Watershed, South India’, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 23, 26–36.
Risebrough, R. W., Rieche, P., Peakall, D. B., Herman, S. G. and Kirven, M. N.: 1968, ‘Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Global Ecosystem’, Nature 220, 1098–1102.
Schmitt, C. J., Zajicek, J. L. and Peterman, P. H.: 1990, ‘National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program: Residues of Organochlorine Chemicals in U.S. Freshwater Fish, 1976–1984’, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 19, 748–781.
Shore, R. F., Boyd, I. L., Leach, D. V., Stebbings, R. E. and Myhill, D. G.: 1990, ‘Organochlorine Residues in roof Timbers and Possible Implications for Bats’, Environ. Pollut. 64, 179–188.
Sierra, M. and Santiago, D.: 1987, ‘Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Barn Owls Collected in Leán, Spain’, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 38, 261–265.
Somers, J. D., Goski, B. C., Barbeau, J. M. and Barrett, M. W.: 1993, ‘Accumulation of Organochlorine Contaminants in Double-crested Cormorants’, Environ. Pollut. 80, 17–23.
Steimle, F. W., Zdanowicz, V. S. and Gadbois, D.: 1990, ‘Metals and Organic Contaminants in Northwest Atlantic Deep-sea Tilefish Tissues’, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 21, 530–535.
Tanabe, S.: 1988, ‘PCB Problems in the Future: Foresight From Current Knowledge’, Environ. Pollut. 50, 5–28.
Tanabe, S., Tanaka, H. and Tatsukawa, R.: 1984, ‘Polychlorobiphenyls, DDTs and Hexachlorocyclohexane Isomers in the Western North Pacific ecosystem’, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 13, 731–738.
Tanaka, H., Ogi, H., Tanabe, S., Tatsukawa, R. and Oka, N.: 1986, ‘Bioaccumulation and Metabolism of PCBs and DDE in Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris During its Transquatorial Migration and in the Wintering and Breeding Grounds’, Mem. Natl. Inst. Polar Res., Spec. Issue, 40, 434–442.
Winter, S. and Streit, B.: 1992, ‘Organochlorines Compounds in a Three-step Terrestrial Food Chain’, Chemosphere 24, 1765–1774.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Focardi, S., Fossi, C., Leonzio, C. et al. Persistent organochlorine residues in fish and water birds from the Biobio river, Chile. Environ Monit Assess 43, 73–92 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399572
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399572