Organochloro pesticides, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and toxic heavy metals in locally marketed marine fishes

Abstract

Though much attention has been given in monitoring pollutants and toxicants in fish that is exported, there have been no serious attempts to examine their presence in fish marketed locally. Fish samples viz., Lutjanus argentimaculates (red snapper), Psettodes erumei (Indian halibut) and Sardinella longiceps (oil sardine) collectedfrom Thoppumpady Fish Market (Cochin,Kerala)were analyzed for the levels of toxic principles like organochloro pesticides (Alpha-BHC,Beta-BHC,Gama-BHC, heptachlor, aldrin, heptaepoxide, dieldrin, ppDDE, OP DDD, OP DDT, pp DDT and endrin) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, acenapthylene, fluorine, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluranthine, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluranthene, benzo(k)fluranthene, dibenz(a,b)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, indeno-1,2,3-cd pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and acenaphthene) and toxic heavy metals(Pb, Cd and Hg).The levels of these toxic components in the fish samples were found to be very low.