One hundred sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii)with an initial weight of about 80 g each were fed on wet pellets (3% of live weight) for about 2 years and bred in part of the cooling water of a thermoelectric power station. Every 3 months five fish were sacrified and muscle samples were collected. Pesticide and PCB concentrations were measured by high resolution gas chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) in the multiple ion detection mode. The mean levels of PCBs and DDT metabolites afer 24 months of breeding were 28.4 ± 2.1 μg/kg d.w. respectively. Values were negligible compared with those observed in other fish species living in the River Po. Furthermore, a remarkable growth of fishes was observed owing to the use of cooling water.