Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in animals from the Yangtze River Estuary and coastal areas

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the animals of the Yangtze estuarine and coastal areas were determined with GC-ECD. The results showed that the concentration distribution of PCBs ranged from 43.7 to 1260.4 ng/g, with an average value of 342.5 ng/g; 1.5-159.4 ng/g and 33.7 ng/g for DDTs; 0.9-77.0 ng/g and 13.0 ng/g for HCHs. The spatial distribution patterns of different contaminants in the same animal species and the same pollutant in the different animal species didn't follow obvious laws. Whereas, animals of the same species were characterized by higher contamination levels for males than females, and the small individuals than large ones. Compared with other areas at home and abroad and low-high level limits, a preliminary assessment was presented. As a result, it was shown that there existed a moderate level, to some extent, with the contamination in the animals from the study area.