Comparison of organic contaminants found in mussels and oysters from a current mussel watch project with those from archived mollusc samples of the 1970s

Organic contaminant concentrations in mussels and oysters were compared between archived samples of a Mussel Watch Program of the 1970s and samples collected more recently by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admnistrationʹs National Status and Trends Program. Archived samples were analysed using current analytical techniques. Chlorinated pesticides and PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) displayed significant decreases between the 1970s and the 1990s. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and butyltins were found in higher concentrations in 1986 than in the 1970s samples. Concentrations for both have decreased since 1986. The original 1970s analytical results were also compared with current analytical results from archived samples. Results were comparable for DDE and were generally comparable for the greater than three-ring PAHs. Results were also comparable for PCBs, even though the early methods quantified Arochlor 1254 and the more recent method quantifies PCBs by congener.