Abstract
In order to quantitatively assess the effect of sample storage conditions on the body burden analysis of organic contaminants, a comparative analysis was carried out on the unionid mussel Elliptic complanata. The mussels were divided into two groups, each with distinct storage conditions, while Group A was kept in the freezer at −20°C, Group B was kept in the refrigerator for five days at 5°C. All the compounds present in the control were also present in Group B samples. Analysis of the organic contaminants in each of these two groups showed that for total PCB concentrations, the two treatments were not significantly different; however when compared individually 6 of the 13 PCB congeners showed significant differences. The observed differences were relatively small for individual PCB congeners (7.1 to 15.3%), higher for chlorobenzenes (10.5 to 36.4%), and yet higher for HCE (44.1%); the difference for HCE, although large is nevertheless not significant, even if only marginally so.