Laboratory model ecosystem studies of the degradation and fate of radiolabeled tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyl compared with DDE.
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.
D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003465:Culex / Q000378:metabolism; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000378:metabolism*; D004463:Ecology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010933:Plankton / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D012908:Snails / Q000378:metabolism
D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls