In Monirith

Contamination by organochlorine compounds in sturgeons from Caspian Sea during 2001 and 2002.

Organochlorine compounds (OCs) were determined in the five species of sturgeons collected from coastal waters of Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran during 2001 and 2002 to understand their status of contamination and accumulation features. Among OCs examined, concentrations of DDTs (DDT and its metabolites) were predominant in all the sturgeon samples with concentrations ranging from 73 to 31,000 ng/g on lipid weight basis, followed by PCBs, CHLs, HCHs, HCB, dieldrin, TCPMOH, and heptachlor epoxide in order. The concentrations of OCs in beluga (Huso huso) were the highest among all the five species. When comparing residue levels among same species, OC residues were highest in sturgeons from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and lowest in Turkmenistan. However, the concentrations of HCHs, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide in sturgeons showed less geographical variability.

Persistent organochlorine residues in marine and freshwater fish in Cambodia

Abstract Concentrations of persistent organochlorines (OCs) such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), DDT compounds (DDTs), HCH (hexachlorocyclohexanes) isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs) and HCB (hexachlorobenzene) were determined in 27 species of marine and freshwater fish collected from Cambodia. DDT and its derivatives were the predominantly detected compounds in both marine and freshwater fish. PCBs were the second highest followed by HCHs, CHLs and HCB. Freshwater fish contained higher concentrations of DDTs than those of marine fish, implying that the sources of DDTs originate from inland watersheds such as the Mekong River, Basac River, Tonlesap River and Tonlesap Great Lake. Comparison of the OCs residue levels in Cambodian fish with those in other Asian and Oceanic regions suggested that Cambodia is one of the less-contaminated countries by OCs. In other words, it can be concluded that Cambodia has kept “Clean Environment” among Asian and Oceanic countries.