Level of Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Shellfisheries and Flounder Eggs at Virgin ia Beach Using Matrix Solid Phase Dispersion

Abstract

Concentrations of pol ych lori natcd bi phen yls (PCBs) a nd organoch lori ne pesticid es (OCPs) i n c l ud i n g IDDTs, Ich lordanes, IBHCs, dield ri n , heptach l or epoxide etc were measu red i n the tissues of di fferent sh e l l fishes and flou nder eggs of Ri ver James at Vi rgi n ia Coast, USA. PCBs were th e most predomi nant contam i n ants, fol l owed by Ich lordanes, IB!-1 Cs, IDDTs, and other OCPs. Concentration of OCPs decreased by an order of magn i tude during the   l ast decades i n th is region; nevertheless, the concentration of PCBs and OCPs i n sh el l fishes arc sti l l elevated. Concen­ trations of organoch lori nes were h igh ly correl ated wi th one another, and were in the range of a few to several ng/ g on a wet wei ght basis. I n the tissue of sh e l l  fishes, th e sum of IOCPs ranged  from 1 93.5-665.53 ng/ g, predom i  nated  by  Ich lordanes. IPCB h ad an overal l  range of 287. 7-28207.9  ng/g and were pred omi n ated by IAroc l or 1 248.