Persistent Organochlorines Accumulated in Small Asian Mongoose (herpestes Javanicus) from the Yambaru Area, Okinawa, Japan

In order to understand residue levels of persistent organochlorines (OCs) in wildlife inhabiting Okinawa, PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, HCB, and chlordane compounds (CHLs) in the liver of feral small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) from the Yambaru area in Okinawa Island were analyzed. The mean concentrations of OCs were in the order of PCBs = DDTs>CHLs>HCB. HCH concentrations were below the detection limit in all the liver samples. The concentrations of DDTs in mongooses were significantly higher than those in raccoon dogs reported previously, whereas CHL levels were notably lower in mongooses. High correlation coefficients were observed between concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, and CHLs in male specimens.