In this study the levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons in caviar samples were investigated in relation to the information available about the origin of the samples. The organochlorine pesticides such as 1,1,1trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane (p,p'-DDT), its metabolites (ΣDDT) and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane), its isomers (ΣHCH), as well as some polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB) were studied. The values for ΣDDT ranged from 21 ng/gram fresh weight (gfw) to 3622 ng/gfw, for ΣHCH from 8 ng/gfw to 133 ng/gfw, and for ΣPCB from 9 ng/gfw to 388 ng/gfw. The relationships between hydrocarbon concentrations in caviar samples and the parameters geographical origin, type of sturgeon, and spawning season were examined using cluster analysis and the Hasse diagram technique. A number of typical compositions of organochlorines in caviar samples originating in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea were found. The ranking of sturgeon species according to the chlorinated hydrocarbon pollution found in their caviar fits their ranking in trophic level: Huso huso (highest trophic level and organochlorine concentration) > Acipenser gueldenstaedti > Acipenser stellatus.
No correlation was found between the different fishing grounds and the levels of organochlorines in caviar samples from the Caspian Sea.