Translocation mechanisms of polychlorinated biphenyls in fresh water: a field study
Description
A 1-yr field study was conducted on a river-reservoir system in Alabama (Coosa drainage) which had previously been heavily contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) via a point source discharge. The study was designed in order to better define the fate of PCB's in the aquatic environment PCB concentrations were determined for quarterly samples of fish (12 species) collected throughout the drainage from which the contamination of the hydrologic system and the bioaccumulation of PCB by fish were defined and evaluated The data were analyzed using various models and statistical methods to evaluate the relationship of PCB residue levels in fish with proximity to the point source of PCB contamination and with fish weight, species and related factors such as water quality parameters, fish lipid content, spawning seasons, feeding habits and metabolic capabilities The results of the study indicated that PCB's were relatively immobile, maintained high levels near the former source of contamination and declined with distance from the outfall. PCB residue levels were shown to vary among species, increase with increasing fish weight and lipid content, vary with spawning season, and were not indicative of a trophic relationship Based on these relationships, it was concluded that lipid partitioning was the major route of PCB accumulation by fish in this study area