The aim of the present study was to investigate the content of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in muscle tissues of fish, i.e. carp (Cyprinus carpio, L.), bream (Abramis brama, L.) and pike perch (Stizostedion lucioperca, L.) from the middle Nové Mlýny reservoir and compare our results with previous corresponding studies. Samples were analysed by gas chromatography with ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. The highest contents of all pollutants were determined in muscle tissue of bream. The analysis of HCHs showed that β-HCH was the most abundant. PCB congener 28 was evaluated as the predominant PCB congener. The metabolite p,p'-DDE exhibited the highest concentration of all the monitored metabolites. The monitoring confirmed significantly (P < 0.01) higher concentrations of OCP and PCB in muscle of bream compared to carp and pike perch. The contents of pollutants in our study were found to be lower in comparison to the findings of some previous studies.

• MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Cyprinidae metabolism   MeSH
• Carps metabolism   MeSH
• Muscle, Skeletal chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring MeSH
• Perches metabolism   MeSH
• Pesticides analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Fresh Water MeSH
• Environmental Exposure * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Water Pollutants, Chemical MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated MeSH
• Pesticides MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls MeSH

Organochlorinated pesticides were widely applied in Armenia until the 1980s, like in all former Soviet Union republics. Subsequently, the problem of areas contaminated by organochlorinated pesticides emerged. Environmental, waste and food samples at one pesticide burial site (Nubarashen) and three former pesticide storage sites (Jrarat, Echmiadzin and Masis) were taken and analysed on the content of organochlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls. Gradient sampling and diffusivity-based calculations provided information on the contamination release from the hot spots on a local scale. A risk analysis based on samples of locally produced food items characterised the impact of storage sites on the health of nearby residents. All four sites were found to be seriously contaminated. High pesticide levels and soil and air contamination gradients of several orders of magnitude were confirmed outside the fence of the Nubarashen burial site, confirming pesticide release. A storage in Jrarat, which was completely demolished in 1996 and contained numerous damaged bags with pure pesticides until 2011, was found to have polluted surrounding soils by wind dispersion of pesticide powders and air by significant evaporation of lindane and β-endosulfan during this period. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-contaminated eggs, sampled from hens roaming freely in the immediate surroundings of the Echmiadzin storage site, revealed a significant health risk for egg consumers above 1E-5. Although small in size and previously almost unknown to the public, storage sites like Echmiadzin, Masis and Jrarat were found to stock considerable amounts of obsolete pesticides and have a significant negative influence on the environment and human health. Multi-stakeholder cooperation proved to be successful in identifying such sites suspected to be significant sources of persistent organic pollutants.

• MeSH
• Aldrin analysis   MeSH
• Chlordan analysis   MeSH
• DDT analysis   MeSH
• Endrin analysis   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Food Contamination analysis   MeSH
• Chickens MeSH
• Soil Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Air Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Milk chemistry   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring MeSH
• Pesticides adverse effects   analysis   MeSH
• Eggs analysis   MeSH
• Environmental Pollution * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Armenia MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Aldrin MeSH
• Chlordan MeSH
• DDT MeSH
• Endrin MeSH
• Soil Pollutants MeSH
• Air Pollutants MeSH
• Pesticides MeSH