BIOCONCENTRATION OF CHLORINATED BIPHENYLS IN BIOTA FROM THE NORTH PACIFIC-OCEAN

This study examined polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener bioconcent ration patterns in tissues of marine biota (macrophytes, urchins, moll usks, sea cucumbers, fishes) at Midway Atoll, North Pacific Ocean. Cal culated mean lipid-normalized logarithmic bioconcentration factors (lo g BCFL) for PCB congeners in various marine species ranged from 3.75 t o 6.97. The relationship between log BCFL and the logarithmic n-octano l-water partition coefficient (log K-ow) can be adequately described b y species-specific parabolic models wherein log BCFL generally increas es then decreases with increases in log K-ow. With the exception of a bilinear model, a variety of hydrophobicity models were generally not successful in closely predicting measured tissue residue concentration s as a function of log K-ow. There is no evidence of a consistent patt ern of progressive increase in bioconcentration of PCB congeners with increasing trophic level in this nearshore aquatic ecosystem. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.