Organochlorine compounds in aquatic organisms from Los Padres lagoon (Argentina)

GONZALEZ SAGRARIO, M. A., J. AIZPÚN DE MORENO, V. MORENO, P. DANIEL Y A. ESCALANTE

USA

Congreso; 18th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; 1997

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Total tissues of two macrophytes (Schoenoplectus argentinus and Ludwigia sp.), one shrimp (Palaemonetes argentinus) and mesenteric fat, gonadal, hepatic and muscle tissues of two fishes (Rhamdia sapo and Oligosarcus jenynsi)  from Los Padres lagoon, were analyzed for a variety of organochlorine contaminants (PCBs, DDTs, HCHs and ciclodienes). Concentrations were reported on a wet weight basis and normalized to lipid content, and reported burdens. HCHs and pentachlorobiphenyls were the principal compounds detected in macrophytes and the former in the shrimp.  According to these results vegetation would be a pollutant sink and a depuration system in this environment. DDE and hexachlorobiphenyls were the most abundant in fishes. O. jenynsi (females) showed the major concentration of pesticides in the ovaries followed by liver an d muscle, whereas PCBs were found only in ovaries. Biomagnification of DDE was confirmed in P. argentinus (prey) and O. jenynsi (predator). Mesenteric fat was found in R. sapo with low gonadal index, becaming a great sink of organochlorine compounds. DDT and metabolites, were quantitatively the most important and Dieldrin and Heptachloroepoxide were also present. The effect of releasing such high levels of organochlorine compounds when the mesenteric fat is going to be metabolized, is discussed. High levels of these compounds were found in male liver and female gonads. Ovaries (high gonadal index) had high levels of lipids, pesticides and PCBs.