Distribution and trend of organochlorine pesticides in galicia coast using mussels as bioindicator organisms. Possible relationship to biological parameters

• +34 We investigated OCPs distribution in wild mussel coming from the Galician Rías.
• The level of OCPs was in the order ΣDDs (sum of DDTs and metabolites) >γ-HCH > HCB.
• Other pesticides, such as, aldrin, endrin, isodrin were not detected.
• Samples from Ría of Ferrol showed the highest levels of OCPs.
• OCPs levels decreased along the period 1998–2012 in Galician coast.

Contamination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) such as DDT and its metabolites (ΣDDs), γ-HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane), HCB (hexachlorobenzene), aldrin, endrin, isodrin and trans-nonachlor were investigated in wild mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from Galician Rías (Rías of Ferrol, A Coruña, Muros, Arousa, Pontevedra and Vigo) during the period 1998–2012. Biological parameters, lipid content, shell length and condition index, were also studied. The OCPs levels in the wild mussel were in the order ΣDDs > γ-HCH > HCB. The other pesticides, aldrin, endrin, isodrin and trans-nonachlor, were not detected or were below the analytical detection limit. All concentrations found in these samples were below the allowable limits for human consumption (Regulation (EC) no. 396/2005). Univariate analysis confirmed that levels of some compounds presented significant relation with biological parameters. Multivariate analysis of the OCPs levels revealed significantly differences between studied Rías, samples from Ría of Ferrol had the highest levels of these compounds (values of ΣDDs ranged from 3.9 to 4.2 ng g−1 ww) and samples from Ría of Arousa, the lowest levels (values of ΣDDs from 1.3 to 2.4 ng g−1 ww). Temporal trends showed a decrease of OCPs levels along the studied period 1998–2012 in the Galician Rías.