[Patterns of distribution of benzo(alpha)pyrene in fishes]

The paper presents comparative data on the levels of benzo(a)-pyrene (BP) in the muscular tissue of 326 specimens of various fishes: marine, brackishwater, migratory, semi-migratory and freshwater. The highest level of BP was found in migratory fish. It is probably due to the abundance of fat species among them. Although BP concentration in Estonian waters and in various fishes: is relatively low, there is evidence of fishcancer. Eight out of 60 fishes were found to have cancer. In six out of these eight cases it was microsarcoma of pike.