Factors influencing concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls in organisms from an estuarine ecosystem

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) were detected in both the abiotic and biotic components of the Brisbane River estuary. Maximum average concentrations were detected in the muscle tissue of pelican (8.2 mg kg-1), gull (2.6 mg kg-1) and catfish (2.1 mg kg-1). Biomagnification was shown not to be a significant factor controlling PCB concentrations in the organisms investigated except in pelicans and gulls. In these cases, estimates of uptake from food sources indicated that biomagnification could be the major process involved. Metabolism or excretion was also found to influence the observed PCB composition of these organisms. Field and laboratory data indicated that, with some benthic organisms, sediment concentrations were the major influence on body concentrations of PCB's and a direct relationship between body concentration and the log of sediment concentration was established. Further laboratory experiments indicated that the uptake of individual PCB's was influenced primarily by two factors: the partition coefficient of n-octanol to water (p) and stereochemical effects. A direct relationship between uptake and the product of log p and the steric effect coefficient was demonstrated. Thus, maximum uptake was found with penta- and hexachlorobiphenyls, predominant in Arochlor 1254. Comparatively less uptake was found with di-, tri- and tetrachlorobiphenyls (Arochlor 1242), which have lower values for log p, and hepta- and octachlorobiphenyls, predominant in Arochlor 1260, which have lower steric effect coefficients.

Plant uptake and dissipation of PBDEs in the soils of electronic waste recycling sites

“…Therefore, soil-to-plant translocation of the higher brominated PBDEs was more difficult. The molecular steric hindrance that limits penetration of cellular membranes by large organic compounds may also contribute to the lower uptake of the higher brominated PBDEs by plant roots (Shaw and Connel, 1982).…”

Trophic Transfer and Biomagnification Potential of Contaminants in Aquatic Ecosystems

“…Often, the organisms examined within a particular study did not fit in a logical food chain, with several organisms potentially occupying a given trophic level (e.g., Rosemarin et al 1985). Many studies made no effort to identify predator-prey relationships between organisms and trophic levels, making it difficult to determine whether or not contaminant trophic transfer was occurring (e.g., Klump and Peterson 1979;Ward et al 1986;Shaw and Connell 1982).…”

“…Pelagic fish species, such as tuna, contained, on average, higher tissue levels than cod, crustaceans (e.g., crab), and bivalves (e.g., mussels). Shaw and Connell (1982) examined a food web in the Brisbane River estuary (mussel-polychaete-erab-fishes) and found potential for PCB biomagnification (ITCs = 2.5 and 6.8).…”

Bioaccumulation Behavior of Persistent Organic Chemicals with Aquatic Organisms

“…In a number of cases the stepwise increase of contaminant concentration with increasing trophic level has been observed and cited as evidence for biomagnification (Woodwell 1967). However, there are many cases where food chains do not exhibit this phenomenon (Shaw and Connell 1982;Robinson et al 1967;Goldbach et al 1976). Other alternative explanations are possible.…”