The occurrence of polychlorinated hydrocarbons in red fox ( <i>Vulpes vulpes</i> L.) in South-western Slovakia

Free living animals are sensitive indicators of the environment pollution by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to determine polychlorinated hydrocarbons in the depot fat of red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i> L.) living in the natural environment of south-western Slovakia. The analyses performed included dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD) was used. The accumulation of pollutants in depot fat of animals followed the order PCB > DDT > HCB. Of all pollutants, the total concentration of PCBs was significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in fat tissue of foxes (1.445 ± 0.174 mg/kg) in comparison to DDT (0.1120 ± 0.24 mg/kg) and HCB 0.052 ± 0.010 mg/kg). Compared to samples from females (0.962 ± 0.110 m/kg), significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) PCB levels were found in samples from males (1.751 ± 0.293 mg/kg). Moderate positive correlation (<i>r</i> = 0.5509) between PCB and HCB was detected. Wild animals can act as indicators of environmental pollution by polychlorinated hydrocarbons, making their monitoring an ongoing priority.