Chlorinated insecticides and PCBs in asteroidea and holothuroidea species from Rijeka Bay, Yugoslavia

Abstract

For an evaluation of the extent of pollution in Rijeka Bay, Yugoslavia by chlorinated hydrocarbons an investigation of levels in sediments and the most abundant benthic organisms (Asteroidea and Holothuroidea species) has been carried out. Samples were collected at several stations in October 1981. The concentrations of chlorinated insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Asteroidea species were from 0.5 to 46.0 μg kg −1 for DDT total, and from 2.5 to 435 μg kg −1 (wet weight) for PCBs. For the PCBs in Holothuroidea species the values ranged from 4.4 to 37.2 μg kg −1 and for DDT total from 0.9 to 48.5 μg kg −1. The contamination of Asteroidea and Holothuroidea samples from Rijeka Bay with persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons was compared with other data for the same species from other parts of the world. Accumulation of chlorinated hydrocarbons by Asteroidea and Holothuroidea species from sediments of Rijeka Bay is discussed with respect to concentration factors (CF). The highest CF (70.0) (dry biota/dry sediment) was obtained for the intestines of Asteroidea species for PCBs and a value of only 2.6 was obtained for DDT total for the skin and muscle of Holothuroidea species. The relatively low bioaccumulation of PCBs and DDTs from sediments in the Rijeka Bay by the Asteroidea and Holothuroidea species is reassuring, because of the problem of dredging and ocean dumping of sediments polluted with persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons.