Whole carp from the Detroit River were analyzed by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry. Seven tertiary alkyl phenols (tert-pentylphenols, tert-butyl-tert-pentylphenols, a di-tert-pentylphenol and a tri-tert-pentylphenol) and eight chlorinated derivatives of these compounds were identified from their mass spectra and confirmed with synthesized authentic standards. 2,4-Di-tert-pentylphenol was the most abundant of these compounds; in one fish sample, its concentration was about 140 ppm. The same alkyl phenols were also found in technical-grade 2,4-di-tert-pentylphenol, which is manufactured at a chemical plant located near the Detroit River. Comparison of the alkyl phenol levels in carp with those in nearby sediments showed that many of these compounds are taken up by carp and that carp can be used to roughly track local sediment contamination.