Uptake of Selected Organochlorine Contaminants in Fishes Resident in the Fraser River Estuary, Vancouver, British Columbia

Abstract

Abstract Starry flounders, prickly sculpins and other resident fishes were captured in the Lower Fraser River in the summers of 1987, 1988 and 1989. Control fish were taken from the estuary of the uncontaminated Homathko River on the B.C. coast in 1987 and 1988. The fish were analysed for chlorophenols, chloroguaiacols and PCBs. The residues most commonly detected were PCBs, tetra-and pentachlorophenol. Fish from the Main Arm contained PCBs that resembled Arochlor 1248 whereas those from the North Arm contained PCBs that resembled a mixture of Arochlors 1254 and 1260. Chloroguaiacol uptake was greater in flounders than in other species. Although PCBs appear to have declined markedly in the Lower Fraser from values published in the early 1970s, there is a need to measure the coplanar fraction to understand their toxic significance to the food chain. Tetra- and pentachlorophenol have declined following a change by industry to the use of alternative sapstain prevention treatments.