Persistent organic pollutant in a fish community of a sub-alpine lake.
This study investigated the presence of organochlorine pollutants in abiotic and biotic samples from Lake Como (Italy). DDTs and PCBs were found to be the major contaminants, ranging from 0.04 to 4.25 and from 0.25 to 40.8 μg/g lipid respectively. Evidence of biomagnification according to the trophic role of the investigated organisms was highlighted by means of Stable Isotope Analysis. A Trophic Magnification Factor (TMF) was calculated for the chemicals of interest and the applicability of the method for global use was confirmed. Statistically significant correlation has been found between the calculated trophic level and the concentrations of more lipophilic compounds, while for the less lipophilic (e.g., HCH, 3CBs) the relationship is no statistically significant and the TMF is close to 1. The role of the foraging area in affecting PCB and DDT concentrations within aquatic ecosystems has been highlighted by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA).
University of Milano-Bicocca, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Milan, Italy. sara.villa@unimib.it
Sara
S
Villa
Elisa Chiara
EC
Bizzotto
Marco
M
Vighi
D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007558:Italy; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls