Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the Bering flounder (Hippoglossoides robustus) from the Sea of Okhotsk

Distribution, bioaccumulation, and health risk assessment of organochlorines across the riverine ecosystem of Punjab Province, Pakistan

This study was designed to assess the distribution of organochlorines (OCs) in fish species, their spatio-temporal variations, bioaccumulation potential, and associated human health risks via dietary intake. The levels of twenty-three organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and thirty-five polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analyzed in six fish species collected from the riverine ecosystem of Punjab Province, Pakistan. The results indicated that the mean levels of Σ23OCPs were 74.1 ng/g ww and 184 ng/g ww, and for Σ35PCBs the levels were 38.8 ng/g ww and 74.8 ng/g ww in herbivorous and carnivorous fish species, respectively. The most abundant contaminants in all fish species were DDTs (65%) and HCHs (14%) among OCPs and heavier PCB congeners (62%) among PCBs. As for dioxin-like PCBs, the WHO toxic equivalency values (ng TEQ/g ww) were in the range of 0.21 (Cyprinus Carpio) to 2.38 (Rita Rita), exceeding the maximum allowable limit of 0.004 ng TEQ/g, ww by the European Commission. Spatio-temporal analysis indicated relatively higher OC levels in winter season with elevated concentrations in fish samples from industrial zone. The bioconcentration factor (L/kg) values ranged from 723 to 2773 for PCBs and 315 to 923 for OCPs in all fish species, with higher levels were reported in carnivorous species. The human health risk assessment at both 50th and 95th percentiles revealed the absence of any significant non-carcinogenic risk as calculated HR was less than 1. However, the critical carcinogenic risk was found to be associated for most of the contaminants, signifying the dietary exposure to OCPs and PCBs might pose the public health concern.

Organochlorine Compounds in the Amur (Heilong) River Basin (2000-2020): A Review

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are well-known contaminants that raise serious concerns, even more than 20 years after they were banned. Their worldwide distribution and persistence necessitate continuous monitoring in all components of the environment. The most challenging issues of POP regulation are associated with international water resources because their solutions require international cooperation in environment protection. This review provides data on various POPs (DDT, HCH, endrin, dieldrin, and PCBs) and their concentrations in aquatic organisms inhabiting the Amur River basin, one of the most poorly explored regions of Northeast Asia. Most studies have been conducted in the Songhua River (China), a tributary of the Amur River, which indicates that large inland bodies of water, especially those of international importance, require more extensive research.

Flounders as indicators of environmental contamination by persistent organic pollutants and health risk

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the potential of using flounders as bioindicators of accumulation and transformation of POPs and to assess the possible environmental risk to the health of the population of the Russian coastal regions. The mean levels of HCH, DDT, and PCBs in the flounders were as follows: in the eastern Sea of Okhotsk, 49 ± 51, 62 ± 89, and 106 ± 83 ng/g lipid weight; in the southern Sea of Okhotsk, 36 ± 37, 15 ± 16, and 97 ± 41 ng/g lipid wt; in the Sea of Japan/East Sea, 62 ± 36, 39 ± 28, and 1616 ± 1177 ng/g lipid wt, respectively. In the Tatar Strait, OCPs were represented mainly by β-HCH with a concentration of 221 ± 182 ng/g lipid wt; the PCB level was 455 ± 317 ng/g lipid wt. Values of ILCR = 2.1·10^-5 due to the consumption of flounder from the Sea of Japan/East Sea at a rate of 29 kg/yr indicate a probability of developing cancer during a lifetime.

Bioaccumulation of POPs in human breast milk from south of the Russian Far East and exposure risk to breastfed infants

The present study is a stage of the regular POP monitoring conducted in the framework of the Russian Federation's National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The POPs concentration (ΣHCH+ΣDDT+ΣPCB) in the samples ranged from 23 to 878 (with a mean of 151.4) ng/g lipid. The ranges of concentrations of OCPs (ΣHCH+ΣDDT) and PCBs were 2.8-291 and 3.2-720 ng/g lipid, respectively. The mean values of OCPs and PCBs amounted to 80.1 and 74.9 ng/g lipid, respectively. As suggested by the results of the EDI calculation, intake of PCBs is slightly high in infants. The fact that most studies have associated PCB with effects, such as development of congenital deformity, reduced immunity, lower weight, and small baby size at birth, makes it an alarming situation.

Organochlorine pesticides (HCH and DDT) in blubber of spotted seals (Phoca largha) from the western Sea of Japan

In 2014-2019, a total of 31 blubber samples were collected from spotted seals (Phoca largha) in the western Sea of Japan. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography to determine level of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The concentration of hexachlorocyclohexane and its isomers (∑HCH) ranged from 389 to 50,070 ng/g lipid weght; the concentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (∑DDT), ranged from 62,720 to 1,110,930 ng/g lipid wt. Transfer of HCH and DDT from mother to pup during pregnancy and lactation was documented. The OCP concentration in blubber of spotted seals from the western Sea of Japan is one to two orders of magnitude higher than in spotted seals inhabiting waters off the Japan coast. Organochlorines detected in the western Sea of Japan likely come from some countries of Southeast Asia still using OCPs in the agriculture sector.

Organochlorine pesticides in marine ecosystems of the Far Eastern Seas of Russia (2000-2017)

The present review provides information on the main organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), widely used in world agriculture in the 1940s-1960s. The patterns of their distribution in the environment, as well as the toxicity, metabolism, and degradation are described. Some data on OCPs distribution in components of aquatic ecosystems in different regions of the World and, particularly, in the Far Eastern Seas of Russia-the Sea of Japan/East Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Bering Sea-is considered for the period 2000-2017. The obtained results are discussed.

Organochlorine pesticides in commercial Pacific salmon in the Russian Far Eastern seas: Food safety and human health risk assessment

Concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) (α-, β-, γ- hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE)) in four species of Pacific salmon (pink, chum, chinook, and sockeye) are presented. OCPs in salmon organs increased in the following order: muscle < liver < eggs < male gonads. Concentrations of the OCP in salmon organs increased in following order: DDE < γ-HCH < α-HCH. The level of pollutants in salmon is compared with the sanitary and epidemiological norms of Russia and other countries. Cancer and noncancer hazard ratios through consumption of salmon in Russian Far East for both men and women also were summarized. Noncancer and cancer hazard ratio values were far below threshold values (<1.0).