Preliminary study on brominated dioxins/furans and hydroxylated/methoxylated PBDEs in Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) liver. Comparison to the levels of analogue chlorinated co-occurring pollutants

Low pg levels of PBDD/Fs in 0.8-38.9 pg g−1 (fat) range (mean 14.2 pg g−1) observed in the tested cod liver samples were significantly lower than levels of their chlorinated analogues (25.1-95.9 range, 37.7 mean pg g−1 fat). Brominated furans dominated the congener profile. Elevated levels of OH-/MeO-BDE were however observed with mean concentrations at 2769 ± 1319 and 5441 ± 2918 pg g−1 (fat) respectively. The observed congener profiles with the predominance of 6-OH-BDE 47 and the relatively high proportion between the native and hydroxylated compounds indicate on natural origin of those compounds or at least presence of various exposure sources. A large fraction of studied samples did not comply with the currently standing EU regulations concerning PCBs and chlorinated dioxins (11%), especially as regards non-dioxin like PCBs (88%).