Toxaphene in North Sea Fish

Relatively high concentrations of toxaphene have been found in fish around Ireland and Scotland according to researchers from the Dutch Governmental Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO). Toxaphene concentrations in mackerel from this area exceeded the German toxaphene level of 0.4 mg/kg lipid weight.

    Levels of 120 µg/kg of toxaphene have been found in mackerel off Shetland in Scotland. Higher levels have been found further down the food chain. Porpoises contained levels at 1,300 µg/kg and white nosed dolphin up to 19,000 µg/kg.

    The source of this contaminant is not clear, as toxaphene is not used in Western Europe. It may have come via atmospheric transportation after use as an insecticide during cotton production in the Caribbean—a distance of about 8,000 km. Previously, toxaphene applied in the US has been detected 1,100 km away.

Toxaphene widely banned

Toxaphene is currently banned in 37 countries and  severely restricted in eight. It was banned in the US in 1982 because of concerns over oncogenicity, acute effects on aquatic life and chronic effects on wildlife. Toxaphene is very persistent, with a soil half life of up to 20 years. It is on the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list of pesticides which the international environmental network, PAN, want to see totally banned from use.

RIVO annual report for 1992, IJmuiden, The Netherlands, August 1993 & Wouter Klootwijk ,Vrij Nederland 21 August 1993.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No.21,September 1993, page 15]