title: Altitudinal gradients of PBDEs and PCBs in fish from European high mountain lakes.
abstract: A first case of temperature-dependent distribution of polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in remote areas is shown. Analysis of these compounds in fish from Pyrenean lakes distributed along an altitudinal transect shows higher concentrations at lower temperatures, as predicted in the global distillation model. Conversely, no temperature-dependent distribution is observed in a similar transect in the Tatra mountains (Central Europe) nor in fish from high mountain lakes distributed throughout Europe. The fish concentrations of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) examined for comparison showed significant temperature correlations in all these studied lakes. Cold trapping of both PCBs and PBDEs concerned the less volatile congeners. In the Pyrenean lake transect the concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs in fish were correlated despite the distinct use of these compounds and their 40 year time lag of emissions to the environment. Thus, temperature effects have overcome these anthropogenic differences constituting at present the main process determining their distributions. These cases of distinct PBDEs and PCBs behavior in high mountains likely reflect early stages in the environmental distribution of the former since they have been under secondary redistribution processes over much shorter time than the latter.
authors: Department of Environmental Chemistry (I.LQ.A.B.-C.S.I.C.), Jordi Girona, 18, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Gallego
authors: Joan O
authors: JO
authors: Grimalt
authors: Mireia
authors: M
authors: Bartrons
authors: Jordi F
authors: JF
authors: Lopez
authors: Lluis
authors: L
authors: Camarero
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Catalan
authors: Evzen
authors: E
authors: Stuchlik
authors: Rick
authors: R
authors: Battarbee
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005843:Geography; D011044:Poland; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D018154:Slovakia; D013030:Spain; D013696:Temperature; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls