LEVELS OF POLYCHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND DIBENZOFURANS IN CRAB TISSUES FROM THE NEWARK RARITAN BAY SYSTEM

Hepatopancreas and muscle tissues of crabs collected from the Newark/Raritan Bay system, New Jersey, were analyzed for polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) by using capillary gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS) in the selected ion-monitoring, mass-profile mode. All hepatopancreas tissue samples were found to be contaminated with PCDD/Fs. Samples collected proximate to a former chemical manufacturing plant located on the Passaic River have the highest levels. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs decrease in animals taken at increasingly more remote sites from the alleged point source. The levels (up to 1 ppb) of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) in hepatopancreas tissues of the crabs taken from Newark Bay are elevated by a factor of 5-10 times those of samples from Raritan Bay. Even the muscle samples from animals taken from Newark Bay have detectable levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, whereas those from Raritan Bay have ''no detectable'' levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (detection limit 0.5-1.0 ppt). The levels of 2,3,7,8-substituted pentachloro- and hexachlorodibenzofurans are approximate 10 times lower. No other PCDD/Fs were detected at a detection limit range of 5-45 ppt.