Increasing levels and biomagnification of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Antarctic biota

This dataset evidences that two benthic fish species (Gobionotothen gibberifrons, Chaenocephalus aceratus) feeding on benthos invertebrates and fish reflected significantly increasing concentrations within a decade (1987–1996), while a benthopelagic species (Champsocephalus gunnari) feeding on krill did not. In the pelagic food chain, lipid52 normalised concentrations of all compounds increased from Antarctic krill to fish, proving that biomagnification of highly lipophilic pollutants (log octanol–water partition coefficient > 5) occurs in water-breathing animals.