Biomagnification of Aroclor 1242 in decomposing Spartina litter
The accumulation of a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture (Aroclor 1242) in the process of detritus formation by a shredded marshgrass (Spartina alterniflora) under aerobic conditions was monitored in percolators for 4 months at 20/sup 0/C. Dissolved PCB in the influent solution was 14 to 16 ..mu..g/liter. Parameters monitored in addition to PCB accumulation were CO/sub 2/ evolution, NH/sub 4//sup +/ uptake, NO/sub 3//sup -/ production, and total organic nitrogen and carbon in the effluent. An NaN/sub 3//sup -/ poisoned control served to assess nonbiological PCB absorption. Up to 90% of the PCB dissolved in the influent water was removed by the biologically active detritus. Biomagnification resulted in three to four times higher PCB concentrations in the active detritus than in the abiotic control. Evolution of CO/sub 2/ was slightly depressed by PCB, but the overall quality (C:N ratio) of the detritus was not affected. The results indicate that bioaccumulation of PCB in detritus is an important means of entry for this pollutant into estuarine food webs.
- Research Organization:
- Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ
- OSTI ID:
- 6369781
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 414:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
DETRITUS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FERMENTATION
FOOD CHAINS
GRASS
AROMATICS
BIOCONVERSION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)