Organochlorine contaminants in different tissues from Platichthys flesus (Pisces, Pleuronectidea)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are organic contaminants that tend to accumulate in fish. Estuaries are exposed to high anthropogenic activities, therefore tending to accumulate more contaminants than the adjacent coastal waters. Platichthys flesus, a fish with high economic value, was analysed for PCBs and HCB along its different age groups, in liver, gills, gonads and muscle. Younger fishes were caught in the estuary, whereas older fishes were caught in the adjacent coastal waters and acquired at Figueira da Foz Regional Office of Docapesca-Portos e Lotas, SA. Both contaminants concentrations follow the pattern: liver > gills > muscle. Hepatosomatic index had the lowest values in younger fishes and the highest values in older fishes. Condition factor values remain stable with age. Younger fishes had higher PCBs concentrations than the older fishes. In opposition HCB was only detected in fish from 3+ to 5+ and its concentration tended to increase with age. Overall P. flesus is considered safe for human intake.This work was supported by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) through a PhD grant attributed to J. Baptista (SFRH/BD/48262/2008), funded by Programa Operacional Potencial Humano of QREN Portugal and by the Portuguese budget through the Ministry of Science Technology and Education. P. Pato acknowledges a postdoctoral fellowship from FCT (SFRH/ BPD/35068/2007)