Persistent organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish from coastal waters off Savannah, GA, USA

Abstract

Contamination profiles of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in six fish species from three selected regions along coastal waters off Savannah, GA, USA. Concentrations of PCBs were predominant (12–493 ng g⁻¹ lw) followed by PBDEs (10–337 ng g⁻¹ lw), OCPs such as DDTs (2.7–153 ng g⁻¹ lw), chlordanes (3.8–34 ng g⁻¹ lw), cyclodienes (<0.1–35 ng g⁻¹ lw), mirex (<0.1–8.6 ng g⁻¹ lw), γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (<0.1–1.4 ng g⁻¹ lw), and hexachlorobenzene (<0.1–0.68 ng g⁻¹ lw). The results indicated no region-specific difference in the contaminants however inter-species as well as intra-species differences were evident. Comparison of DDTs, PCBs, and PBDEs profiles in fish with those from other countries revealed that fish from coastal waters off Savannah contained relatively less concentrations of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides, while PBDE concentrations were comparable or even higher than fish samples from other regions. Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and chlorinated pesticide tempoal trend data exhibited no increase of contamination levels. The levels of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides in fish from Savannah coastal waters were below the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) established limits for human consumption.

Keywords:

• Small finfish
• POPs
• organochlorine pesticides
• OCPs
• DDTs
• chlordanes
• PCBs
• PBDEs
• Savannah River

Acknowledgements

Part of this study was financially supported by the US National Park Service, Department of Interior (grant/order number P5420050005). Part of this research was performed under the auspices of contract number DE-FG09-96SR18558, United States Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. We also thank the administration and staff of Fort Pulaski National Monument for fishing permission. The authors are thankful to Capt. Jay Rosenzweig; and marine science students, Nick Scoville, Frank Buchanan, and Randee Esteve for their help in field sampling.