The Iberian lynx had lower PCB levels than other carnivores because they don't eat reptiles

The Iberian lynx is healthy than other carnivores due to his diet, based on rabbit. They have lower organochlorine compounds (PCB) levels than other carnivores who eat reptiles. A study from scientist of the Estacion Biológica de Doñana demonstrate that reptile biomass in carnivore diets correlated positively with liver PCB levels.

The accumulation of organochlorine compounds is well studied in aquatic food chains whereas little information is available from terrestrial food chains. This study presents data of organochlorine levels in tissue and plasma samples of 15 critically endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and other 55 wild carnivores belonging to five species from three natural areas of Spain --Doñana National Park, Sierra Morena and Lozoya River--and explores their relationship with species diet.

The Iberian lynx have lower PCB levels than other carnivores with more anthropic and opportunistic foraging behavior, such as the red fox, or with diets including reptiles at higher proportion, such as the Egyptian mongoose, or the common genet. Chlorinated pesticides showed interspecific variations similar to PCBs.

Organochlorine levels have declined since the 80s in carnivores from Doñana National Park, but PCB levels are still of concern in Eurasian otters from the industrialized region of Madrid.

Geometric means
Iberian Linx
Plasma: <0.01 ng mL−1 
Liver: 0.4 ng g−1 wet weight 
Fat: 87 ng g−1 lipid weight

Red fox.Vulpes vulpes
Plasma: 1.11 ng mL−1 
Liver: 459 ng g−1 
Fat: 1984 ng g−1

Mongoose. Herpestes ichneumon
Plasma: 7.15 ng mL−1 
Liver: 216 ng g−1
Fat: 540 ng g−1

Genet. Genetta genetta
Liver: 466 ng g−1
Fat: 3854 ng g−1

Eurasian otters.Lutra lutra
Liver: 3873–5426 ng g−1