First insight into accumulation of characteristics and tissues distribution of PCBs, PBDEs, and other BFRs in the living Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis)

Persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and other brominated flame retardants, were determined in the liver, muscle, and ovary tissue of Indonesian coelacanth ( Latimeria menadoensis ) incidentally caught around Gangga Island, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia on November 5, 2014. Concentrations of total PCBs (209 congeners, 300–2600 ng g − 1 lipid weight) in all tissues showed higher than those of PBDEs (9 congeners, 3.9–6.1 ng g − 1 lw) and BTBPE (1.1–3.6 ng g − 1 lw). Tissue-specific PCBs and PBDEs profiles are likely because of differences in the lipid composition. Toxic equivalent (TEQ) values of dioxin-like PCBs in the coelacanth tissues were lower than benchmark values for early life fish. However, compared with the data reported in deep-sea fishes in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, relatively high concentrations of PCBs detected in this study raise concerns about Indonesian coelacanth's conservation and habitat condition.