Polychlorinated biphenyl spatial patterns in San Francisco Bay forage fish

► Estuarine forage fish are useful biosentinels of site-specific PCB contamination. ► Contaminated industrial sites have elevated tissue PCB concentrations. ► A north-south spatial gradient was related to urbanization. ► Tissue concentrations correlated with co-located sediment concentrations. ► Congener profiles at some industrial sites indicated local Aroclor 1248 exposure.