Determination of PCB Levels in Common carp(Cyprinus carpio )and Pike (Esox lucius) in Anzali Wetland (Abkenar),Iran

To determine level of PCBs in skin and muscle of Cyprinus carpio and Esox lucius fishes  in the west part of Anzali Wetland in Abkenar in autumn (Dec.2010) 4 sampling stations were selected .Samples of water, sediment, suspended particles in water, C. carpio and E. lucius fishes were collected from Abkenar, Anzali Wetland. Nine fish samples were caught from each species. Collected samples of water, sediment, suspended particles and fish were transferred to laboratory. After preparation, extract and clean up of the samples, analyses of PCBs were carried out using Gas Chromatography (GC-ECD) with Ni63 ionization detector. PCB average concentration was 24.36 ng/g(dried weight) in  Esox  lucius skin, 14.36 ng/g in E.  lucius mussel  tissue, 21.82 ng/g C. carpio skin and 20.86 ng/g in C. carpio mussel tissue. Coefficient Variation (CV) of average concentration PCBs in E. lucius skin tissue was higher than other tissues. Based on statistical analysis, there were a significant difference between E.  lucius mussels &  skin tissue & C. carpio mussels &  skin tissue  )p(. There were also significant difference between PCBs concentration in water with PCBs concentration in sediment (pC. carpio tissue and filtered suspended particles in water was seen (p<0.05, r=0.851, r2=76%, n=9) and a very strong positive correlation was found between PCBs concentration in water and filtered suspended particles in water (pE.  lucius skin tissue was 5835.69 µg/g, in E.  lucius mussels  tissue was 3440.58 µg/g, in C. carpio skin tissue was 5232.28 µg/g and in C. carpio mussels tissue was 4997.63 µg/g. The real average (with accuracy of 95%) of PCBs in fish tissues (Max. 0.03653 ppm and Min. 0.01025 ppm) in autumn was less than FDI Standards and Australia Food / NZ MRL standards and more than USEPA standard.