Determination of extractable organic bromine and chlorine in biological compartments of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua) by neutron activation analysis.

Tissues, eggs and bile of adult Atlantic cod raised in captivity and fed natural food with no additional halogenated compounds of any kind were analyzed by neutron activation. There was a large difference in the tissue distributions of extractable organic chlorine (EOCl) and bromine (EOBr). Liver lipid had the lowest levels of EOBr and EOCl, of all the components investigated, and eggs had the highest levels of EOCl. Heart contained the most EOBr and EOCl per unit lipid, of the tissues. The presence of a larger proportion of EOBr than EOCl in bile suggests a higher rate of excretion of EOBr. The EOCl concentratios found in cod egg lipids were about 5 times higher than the highest values previously reported for EOCl in lipid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]