Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Game Animals from Poland

The occurrence and concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 141 adipose tissue samples of wild boars, roe deer, and red deer from different regions of the country, collected in 2010/2011. The determinations of HCH isomers (α-, β-, and γ-HCH), HCB, DDTs (p,p’-DDT, o,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, and p,p’-DDD), and PCBs (six indicator PCB congeners 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) were carried out using the capillary gas chromatography. The mean concentrations of DDTs expressed on the fat basis ranged from 0.241 mg/kg (wild boar) to 0.032 mg/kg (red deer), and for PCBs from 0.015 mg/kg (wild boar) to 0.010 mg/kg (roe deer). The mean contribution of p,p’-DDE to DDTs and PCB 153, PCB 138, and PCB 180 to PCBs exceeded 80% and 90% respectively, in all game animal samples studied. Higher contents of chlorinated hydrocarbons were detected in game animals originating from industrial regions.