Concentrations and composition of organochlorine contaminants in different species of cephalopod molluscs from the Italian waters (Adriatic Sea).

Persistent organochlorines, such as polychlorinated biphenyls including coplanar congeners and DDT compounds were measured in the liver of different species of mollusc cephalopods: broadtail squid (Illex coindetii), horned octopus (Eledone moschata) and spider octopus (Octopus salutii) collected in two different areas of the Adriatic Sea (central and southern Adriatic Sea). The concentration of PCBs exceeded DDT ones in horned octopus (PCBs: 617.0 ngg(-1) lipid weight, DDTs: 188.

Trace elements in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the eastern Mediterranean Sea: overview and evaluation.

Concentrations of trace elements (Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Se) in different organs and tissues (liver, kidney, muscle tissue, spleen, heart, lung, and fat tissue) of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta from eastern Mediterranean Sea were determined. The highest levels of mercury and cadmium were found in liver (Hg: 0.43 microg g(-1) wet weight; Cd: 3.

Polychlorinated biphenyl residues in deep-sea fish from Mediterranean Sea.

Polychlorinated biphenyls including coplanar congeners were measured in the liver of different species of skates and ghostsharks. The mean concentrations of PCBs in skates (314 ng/g wet wt) were comparable with those in ghostsharks (285 ng/g wet wt). The specific analysis of PCB congeners in skates hepatic tissue revealed a profile dominated by hexa-, penta-, and heptachlorinated congeners followed by trichlorobiphenyls, tetra- and decachlorobiphenyls.

Survey of total mercury and methylmercury levels in edible fish from the Adriatic Sea.

Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were measured in the muscle tissue of different fish species from the Adriatic Sea to ascertain whether the concentrations exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission. Large species-dependent variability was observed. The highest total mercury mean concentrations were in benthic (0.