Environmental Contamination by Toxaphene and Toxaphene-like Compounds Generated During Chlorobleaching Process: II. Congener Pattern of Toxaphene like Compounds in Striped Mullet.

Abstract

Toxaphene like compounds, of pinenes origin, from chlorination process were fractionated and used as a reference mixture to survey fishes inhabiting nearby pulp mill effluents. Several congeners, constituent of the fraction, tentatively designated as chlorinated pinenes (CPIs), were detected in fish tissue. For the sake of comparison, Baltic cod liver oil (The Baltic area is known to have toxaphene pollution record) was subjected to the same analyses. Interestingly, some songeners similar to those in CPIs mixture was found in the cod liver oil. Penta and hexachloro congeners found in CPIs mixture and other samples were present in toxaphene. Some congeners are likely to be accumulated in fish with the concentration ratio of fish to effluent as much as 102 to 103. Thus it is probable that pulp mill effluents also contribute to the environmental pollution of toxaphene like compounds. Although total concentration in fish reported here (about 80 ng/g wet weight) was low to cause any health risk, further studies are needed to make clear the state of toxaphene like compounds pollution. Analytical approach demonstrated here is new and useful to determine hiherto unidentified pollutants regardless of the yet unavailable pure standards.