Abstract
Radiolabeled tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyls (PCB) and DDE were studied in a laboratory model ecosystem for degradation pathways, and biomagnification in alga, snail, mosquito, and fish. Trichlorobiphenyl was degraded in all the organisms of the model ecosystem much more rapidly than tetrachloro- and pentachlorobiphenyl. Pentachlorobiphenyl was approximately as persistent as DDE. There was a linear relationship between lipid/water partition and ecological magnification and between water solubility and ecological magnification. No evidence of conversion of DDE to PCB was detected.
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Metcalf, R.L., Sanborn, J.R., Lu, PY. et al. Laboratory model ecosystem studies of the degradation and fate of radiolabeled tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyl compared with DDE. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 3, 151–165 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220785
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220785