PCDD, PCDF, AND dl-PCB IN BALTIC HERRING, SALMON AND SPRAT FROM WESTERN GOTLAND BASIN OF THE BALTIC SEA

The concentrations and congener pattern of the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) were determined in Baltic herring (11 pooled samples), salmon (8 individuals), and sprat (11 pooled samples) by HRGC-HRMS. The fish were collected during November-December 2006 in the open Baltic Sea. The highest concentration of PCDD/Fs was found in salmon muscle tissue, from 2.16 to 5.67 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g f.w. Two salmon samples exceeded maximum level for PCDD/Fs and four of them sum of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs. In herring and sprat, the concentrations of PCDD/Fs were in a range of 1.37-3.38 and 1.78-3.42 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g f.w., respectively. Dioxin-like PCBs in herring and sprat were in a range of 1.403.98 and 2.40-4.03 pg WHO-PCB-TEQ/g f.w., respectively. In all fish species the following congeners dominated: 2,3,7,8TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, and PCB 118, 105, and 156. Dioxin-like PCBs prevailed over PCDD/Fs in all the tested samples.