FISH, WILDLIFE, AND ESTUARIES - POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS AND OTHER ORGANIC-CHEMICAL RESIDUES IN FISH FROM MAJOR WATERSHEDS OF THE UNITED-STATES, 1976

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (1) , 1-11
Abstract
Composite samples of fish were collected from major United States watersheds in 1976 and analyzed for PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) and related organic chemicals. PCB were found in 93% of the fish samples; 53% of the samples contained more than 5 ppm PCB, whole fish basis, which is the current tolerance level set by the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Only 14% of the samples contained less than the proposed action level of 2 ppm PCB. PCB concentrations ranged from less than 0.3 ppm to 140 ppm in the composite samples. .SIGMA.DDT concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 ppm to 4.53 ppm. Hexachlorobenzene was identified in 19% of the samples, and chlordane components were identified in 36% of the samples. Chemicals identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, but not quantified, include chlorinated benzenes, styrenes, anisoles, phenols, anilines, propanes and butadienes, as well as mixtures of petroleum hydrocarbons.