Chemical contamination in fish species from rivers in the North of Luxembourg: Potential impact on the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra).

peer reviewed ; Contamination levels of PCBs, and of the heavy metals cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were analyzed in four fish species from seven rivers in the North of Luxembourg. During August and September 2007, 85 samples of fish were collected belonging to four species: the stone loach (Barbatula barbatula, n = 12 pools), the chub (Squalius cephalus, n = 36), the barbel (Barbus barbus, n = 23) and eel (Anguilla anguilla, n = 14). The concentration of seven indicator PCBs (P7PCBs) reached a mean of 39 ng g􏰀1 and varied between 4.0 and 346.2 ng g􏰀1 (wet wt) depending on the site... Mehr ...