Study of Organochlorine Pesticides in Muscle Tissue of Two Commercial Fish Species (Cyprinus carpio & Rutilus frisii kutum) in Southwest of the Caspian Sea

Organochlorine pesticides including lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin and DDT were analized in muscle tissue of two commercial fish species, (Cyprinus carpio and Rutilus frisii) from five stations in the southwest Caspian Sea (Astara-Hashtpar-Anzali-Kiashahr and Ramsar). There was no pesticide contamination in fish samples of Astara. Heptachlor in muscle tissue of Cyprinus carpio from Anzali had the highest concentration (11.964 mg/kg - lipid weight basis) among all fish samples. Mean level of each pesticide was calculated in all fish samples. The results showed that among other pesticides, heptachlor is the main contaminant in southwest of Caspian Sea (2.6479 mg/kg - lipid weight basis). Generally, in comparison with Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) established by FAO/WHO, the levels of heptachlor in muscle tissue of Cyprinus carpio from Anzali and Ramsar, Rutilus frisii from Hashtpar and level of dieldrin in muscle tissue of Rutilus frisii from Kiashahr can have health risk to consumers. The concentration of above mentioned pesticides in the same fish samples are higher than Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). In addition, level of DDT in muscle tissue of Rutilus frisii from Ramsar exceeds the MRL values.