title: Evaluation of pesticides and metals in fish of the Dniester River, Moldova.
abstract: The Dniester River is one of the largest rivers in Eastern Europe and receives input from numerous anthropogenic activities. In October 2001, fish samples (Abramis brama, Rutilus rutilus heckeli, Perca fluviatilis, Chondrostoma nasus, Carassius auratus gibelio, and Cyprinus carpio) were collected and analyzed for metals and various pesticides. Maximum total DDT pesticide concentrations were between 27.7 and 34.2 ng/g wet weight in muscles and gonads, respectively. DDE isomers comprised up to 70% of total DDT measurement in fish tissues, indicating historical rather than recent DDT pollution. Chlordane and lindane were also detected in amounts up to 37 and 76 ng/g wet weight in gonads, respectively. Among organophosphorous pesticides, malathion showed extremely high concentrations--3 microg/g wet weight in muscles and 46 microg/g wet weight in gonads, indicating recent exposure. Copper concentrations in muscles (1.8-7.2 microg/g) exceeded Threshold Effect Concentrations for copper in fish. Detection of high concentrations of malathion and copper in fish tissues indicated potential anthropogenic stress for more sensitive aquatic biota, likely from agricultural sources in the Dniester River.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, 3401 Watkins Dr, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. yelena.sapozhnikova@noaa.gov
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sapozhnikova
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zubcov
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hungerford
authors.forename: Luke A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boicenco
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zubcov
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlenk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D008294:Malathion / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008966:Moldova; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper; D003634:DDT; D008294:Malathion