Distribution of persistent organochlorine pesticides in tissue/organ of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) from Guanting Reservoir, China

The concentration of organochlorine pesticides(OCPs) in tissues and organs of silver carp(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) from Guanting Reservoir were investigated to evaluate the pollution potential and distribution of OCPs. A total of 16 OCPs were measured and the concentrations were in the range of 1.61—69.01 ng/g wet weight(ww) for total OCPs, 0.16—0.75 ng/g ww for HCB, 0.75—26.80 ng/g ww for ΣHCH(sum of α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH) and 0.68—35.94 ng/g ww for ΣDDT( sum of p, p′-DDE, p, p′-DDD, o, p′-DDT and p, p′-DDT). The mean concentrations of total OCPs, HCB, ΣHCH, and ΣDDT were 18.04, 0.96, 7.14 and 9.28 ng/g ww, respectively. Among the organochlorine pesticides, β-HCH and p, p′-DDE were the most dominant compounds in tissue and organ with the average concentrations of 4.42 and 8.14 ng/g, respectively. The results obtained in this study show that the levels of 16 OCP residues found in silver carps are low and pose no threat to human health and wildlife fed upon them on the basis of existing related quality guidelines. However, recent input of lindane and DDT might still exist in the area investigated and further investigation should be carried on.