Organochlorine residues in european eel (Anguilla anguilla), crucian carp (Carassius carassius) and catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) from Vaccarès lagoon (French National Nature Reserve of Camargue) - effects on some physiological parameters.

European eels (Anguilla anguilla), crucian carps (Carassius carassius) and catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) were collected in three coastal locations of the Vaccarès lagoon (French National Nature Reserve of Camargue). The purpose of this paper is to report results of the first biomonitoring investigation in fish living in this protected coastal wetland. Residues of organochlorine (OC) contaminants (i.e. SigmaPCBs, gammaHCH, HCB, dieldrin, pp'-DDE) were determined in hepatic and muscular tissues, in order to compare geographical and seasonal distribution. Total exposure levels appeared to be more important in fatty fish such as eels than in crucian carps and catfish. The highest OC concentrations in liver (SigmaPCB) and in muscle (gammaHCH) were detected in Spring in some fish coming from a site located near the mouth of a canal draining irrigation waters of rice fields. Morphophysiological parameters (condition factor, organo-somatic indexes and lipid tissue composition) were measured concomitantly. Correlations between the hepatic and muscular burdens of OC and condition factor or organo somatic indexes were infrequent and rather negative. Localization of lipid accumulation (neutral or polar lipids) depended on metabolic rates of different species and appeared related to the fish trophic level.