Organochlorine pesticides in the tissues of the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) (Waldbaum)

The abdominal fat of adult barracuda caught in Florida waters was analyzed for organochlorine pesticides. Of a total of 281 fish, 63% had 5 to 760 g abdominal fat. The fat of 96% of these fish contained DDT or one of its isomers or metabolities. Except for the smallest and largest fish, the ratio of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archiv fü̈r Toxikologie 1972-01, Vol.29 (4), p.287-309
Main Authors: Deichmann, W B, Cubit, D A, MacDonald, W E, Beasley, A G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipose Tissue - analysis
Animals
DDT - analysis
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - analysis
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane - analysis
Fishes
Florida
Gonads - analysis
Insecticides - analysis
Intestines - analysis
Liver - analysis
Marine
Reproduction
Seasons
United States
Water Pollution, Chemical
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Summary:The abdominal fat of adult barracuda caught in Florida waters was analyzed for organochlorine pesticides. Of a total of 281 fish, 63% had 5 to 760 g abdominal fat. The fat of 96% of these fish contained DDT or one of its isomers or metabolities. Except for the smallest and largest fish, the ratio of 'total' DDT in fat to kg body wt remained constant (0.08 to 0.11 mg/kg). During the spawning season, in addition to fat, certain organs and tissues of these fish were also analyzed. The highest pesticide concentration were found in the fat. Assigning to the concentration of 'total' DDT in abdominal fat a value of 10, the rating for the concentration of 'total' DDT in the liver becomes approximately 1.1, in the pylotic cecum 1, in flesh 0.7, and for the fully developed gonads 0.5. It seems unlikely that larval barracuda are affected unfavorably by these low concentrations of DDT unless they are exceedingly sensitive to this compound. Since the quantity of abdominal fat and tissue pesticide concentrations were highest at the beginning and lowest during the height and end of the spawning season (and if this should apply to other fish species), then it can be concluded that spot-checking fish tissues for pesticides once or twice a year, more likely than not, provides misleading information with regard to pollution. Tissues and flesh of all barracuda were fed to cats, with no symptoms of ciguatera.
ISSN:0003-9446
0340-5761
1432-0738
DOI:10.1007/BF00326645