title: Concentrations of PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and copper) in fish from the Drôme river: potential effects on otters (Lutra lutra).
abstract: In this study samples of ten species of fish were analyzed for concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cu). Fish were captured using electric fishing on ten sites along the Drôme river (Rhône-Alpes region). Quantitative determination of the organochlorine and PCBs compounds was performed by gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The concentrations of heavy metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Samples contained detectable concentrations of lindane, PCBs, and heavy metals but at concentrations below the maximum residue limit (MRL). Non-parametric statistical analysis was performed to distinguish groups of sites with different levels of contamination. PCBs concentrations increased along the river with four groups of sites significantly different from each other. Cadmium concentrations were below the MRL. Lead contamination showed two groups significantly different and a repartition similar to PCBs. Copper contamination was correlated with the localization of vineyards. We assessed the potential effects of contamination the otter (Lutra lutra). The concentrations of all pollutants analyzed in fish sampled in this study are lower than the threshold values described in literature. The Drôme river is relatively unpolluted river, and the establishment of otter populations should not be affected by pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Toxicology Laboratory ENVL, 1 av. Bourgelat F-69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France. a.mazet@vet-lyon.fr
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazet
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berny
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020387:Food Chain; D005602:France; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010041:Otters / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper