Inter-tissue distribution and evaluation of potential toxicity of PCBs in Baltic cod (Gadus morhua L.).

Abstract PCBs measured in the muscle, liver, and gonads of cod collected from two locations in the southern Baltic were evaluated as total (∑PCBs), indicator (∑PCB 7 ), and dioxin-like (∑DL-PCBs) concentrations. Gender, tissue lipid content, and collection site were important determinants of PCB levels. Irrespective of collection site, lipid-normalized ∑PCBs, ∑PCB 7 , and ∑DL-PCBs in females were the lowest in the muscle, and of similar levels in liver and gonads. In males the concentrations had a decreasing order of liver >muscle >gonads. Despite the gender differences in tissue levels, the profiles were fairly similar in both genders and sites. Significant relationships were found for both ∑DL-PCBs and ∑TEQ DL-PCB and concentrations of ∑PCBs and ∑PCB 7 . The levels of ∑TEQ DL-PCB in the livers of both genders and in female gonads, in addition to the total PCBs load in these organs, raise concern and suggest that the species can suffer from PCBs toxic effects.