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(W/EH095) Determination of PCBs, heavy metals and arsenic in eels and trouts from Turia River (Spain). Bordajandi, Luisa 1, Gómez, Gema1, Fernández, Mario1, González, Maria José1, 1 ABSTRACT- Turia River is one of the most importants of the Spanish Mediterranean basin. The river flows through agricultural areas, where pesticides may be used, and through potentially pollutant areas due to industrial activities, which can contribute to the total contaminant input. PCBs, heavy metals and arsenic are well-known environmental contaminants found world-wide, which concentrate in living organisms, particularly in those that occupy the upper trophic levels in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Fish, as aquatic predatory animals, are good indicators of the contamination of aquatic ecosystems by this type of compounds, which are considered as a possible cause of the decreasing of the wildlife population. We present here the preliminary results of PCB congener (including the most abundant, toxic and persistent), heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg) and arsenic concentration levels, found in muscle, liver and kidney of two fish species: trout (Salmo trutta) and eel (Anguilla anguilla) collected in higher and medium stretches and tributaries of Turia River in February 2000. PCBs were analysed by HRGC-ECD after extraction, clean-up and fractionation steps. Heavy metals and arsenic were analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Higher values of all metals were found in liver and kidney rather than in muscle, presenting Cu and Zn the highest concentrations. In the case of PCBs, differences in levels and profiles were found between both species studied. Key words: PCBs, heavy metals and arsenic, trouts and eels, Turia River |
