Comparative levels of organochlorine compounds in flounders from the northeast coast of Newfoundland and an offshore site

Muscle tissue of yellowtail flounder, Pleuronectes ferruginea (n=6) and winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus (n=9) collected from Bonavista Bay, Conception Bay and an offshore location off northeastern Newfoundland, Canada, were analyzed for PCBs and other organochlorine compounds to determine if there are geographical variations in the concentrations and patterns of these persistent contaminants. The concentrations of total PCB congeners on a wet weight basis were relatively homogeneous at low ng/g levels. DDE, HCH compounds, and components of technical chlordane were the dominant organochlorine contaminants. Lipid normalized data indicate that PCB concentrations were higher in both species collected in the moderately urbanized region of Conception Bay. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of PCB congener patterns indicated that flounder collected in Conception Bay had greater proportions of highly chlorinated PCB congeners, which may indicate point-source contamination in this region. Concentrations and patterns of other organochlorine compounds were relatively consistent across all sampling locations.