Chlorinated compounds in the muscle tissue of fish from the Croatian Adriatic: preliminary data on contamination and the associated health risks.

Levels of 17 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) and seven organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured in the muscle tissue of 18 commercially important fish species from the eastern Adriatic Sea. PCBs [<LOD-8,866 ng g⁻¹ lipid weight (lw)] accounted for over 66 % of all analysed compounds. Their pattern was dominated by PCB-138 and PCB-153. DDE (14.2-649 ng g-1 lw) was the prevalent DDT isomer in all samples, suggesting no recent DDT input. β-, γ- and α-HCH and HCB were found in less than 50 % of samples. The analysed organic contaminants did not seem to bioaccumulate up the food web (trophic levels 3.0 to 4.5). Our findings show no risk of chronic (non-cancerous) effects on human health.