Authors : F. Ejobi , P. Muller , J. Opuda-Asibo and J. Kruger
Abstract: Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides were determined in muscle and liver samples of Nile Perch (Lates nilotica) caught from the Ugandan part of Lake Victoria. Our overall objective was to assess human exposure risk to these chemicals through consumption of fish. Six organochlorine pesticide residues and 3 polychorinated biphenyl congeners were found in fillet samples in the following proportions: hexachlorobenzene (6.7%), dieldrin (3.3%), p,p`-DDE (83.3%), o,p`-DDD (6.7%), p,p`-DDD (3.3%), p,p`-DDT (20%), PCB-153 (13.3%), PCB-138 (13.3%) and PCB-180 (16.7%). The concentrations of these contaminants in muscle were generally low. The mean concentration of total DDT in muscle was 0.001 mg kg 1 fresh weight and the highest recorded level was 0.003 mg kg 1 fresh weight. DDE constituted on average 94% of total DDT in fillet. In liver samples, 9 organochlorine pesticide residues and 4 PCB congeners were found in the following proportions: Hexachlorobenzene (20%), -HCH (13.3%), -HCH (6.7%), lindane (10%), dieldrin (36.7%), p,p`-DDE (83.3%), o,p`-DDD (3.3%), p,p`-DDD (33.3%), p,p`-DDT (13.3%), PCB-52 (3.3%), PCB-101 (16.7%), PCB-153 (16.7%) and PCB-138 (13.3%). The mean total DDT was 0.003 mg kg 1 fresh weight, with the highest concentration of 0.01 mg kg 1 fresh weight. The mean residue levels of total DDT and dieldrin were 0.12 and 0.3% of the respective German maximum residue limits. The estimated average adult daily intakes of the total DDT residues through fillet consumption was only 0.0005% of FAO/WHO maximum acceptable daily intake.
F. Ejobi , P. Muller , J. Opuda-Asibo and J. Kruger , 2007. Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Nile Perch (Lates nilotica) from Lake Victoria, Uganda . Journal of Fisheries International, 2: 158-161.