Phenolic compounds in the water and marine organisms off the Belgian coast

Phenolic compounds were determined in water and in Asterias rubens, Ophiura spp. , Macropipus holsatus, Pleuronectes platessa, Merlangius merlangus and Sprattus sprattus during an eight months' survey. Individual data for sea-water varied between 2 and 15 µg/1 with an average of 6 µg /1. Average value in marine organisms ranged from 46 to 90 µg /kg, reflecting the influence of pollution in coastal waters. Indeed, results of control analyses carried out on fish from Arctic waters were below the determination limit of 5 µg /kg.