Organochlorine pollutants level in fish from mariut lake, Alexandria, Egypt

The residues of 25 organochlorine pollutants, as well as 3 aroclors were analyzed by capillary GLC in two Tillipia fish species and Cyprinus carpio collected from Mariut lake, Alexandria, Egypt. The studied pollutants were DDT's isomers, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) isomers, as well as cyclodiene compounds, mirex, methoxychlor, toxaphene and hexa-chlorobenzene (HCB), Aroclors 1248, 1254 and 1260, in addition to 9 individual PCBs congeners. Lipid content percentage ranged from 1.6 to 4.3% as judged by Extractable Organic Matter (EOM) values. Lindane dominated the alpha-isomer of HCHs. p,p'-DDE dominated other DDTs analogs in all fish with maximum concentration 25.0 ng/g in Cyprinus carpio. Toxaphene was detected in all fish samples with a maximum level of 29.0 ng/g in Cyprinus carpio. Aroclor 1248 dominated other aroclors in all fish samples. For PCBs 153 congener dominated other congeners. The lower chlorinated biphenyls (mono- through penta-chlorobiphenyls) congeners occurred at lower levels except PCB 200, congener not detected mostly.