Polychlorinated biphenyls in farmed and wild Onchorhynchus kisutch and Onchorhynchus mykiss from the Chilean Patagonia.
OBJECTIVE
This paper analyses the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in escaped: farmed and wild salmons in southern Chile, analysing their concentrations and congener profiles in two species (Oncorhynchus kisutch and Oncorhynchus mykiss).


METHODS
Muscle samples from both farmed and escaped fish of two species, O. mykiss (rainbow trout) and O. kisutch (coho salmon), were analysed for PCBs (42 congeners). To differentiate between the wild salmon and the salmon that have escaped from fish farms, the astaxanthin content in the muscular tissue was analysed with a high-performance liquid chromatography -diode array detector method. PCBs were measured by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector.


RESULTS
The levels of astaxanthin can be used to differentiate between farmed, escaped and wild-borne salmons with statistically different concentrations. When comparing the total PCB concentrations for both trout and salmon samples, it can be determined that a separate analysis for farmed, escaped and wild-borne fish more accurately describes the real differences in the concentrations; these differences are hidden when separate analyses are not performed. The congener profiles are similar in both trout and coho salmon, where the tri-, tetra- and penta-CB congeners are the most abundant.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first report of PCBs in wild-borne, farmed and escaped salmons for the Southern Hemisphere, considering that Chile is actually one of the principal world producers of salmon.
Aquatic Systems Research Unit, EULA-Chile Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
Monica
M
Montory
Evelyn
E
Habit
Paulina
P
Bahamonde
Pilar
P
Fernandez
Joan O
JO
Grimalt
Katia
K
Saez
Ignacio
I
Rudolph
Ricardo
R
Barra
D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002677:Chile; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D017684:Oncorhynchus kisutch / Q000378:metabolism*; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls