Biological indications of contaminant exposure in Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua) in the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is exposed to severe human impacts. Besides eutrophication and overfishing, a variety of chemical contaminants threaten the health of fish. During a cruise in December 2001, Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) were collected in the western and southern Baltic Sea, somatic condition factors were estimated, and different biomarkers of contaminant exposures were analysed. Additionally, various polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and organochlorine pesticides were measured in cod liver as more general indicators of pollution, not necessarily as the causative agents for biomarker signals