Zooplankton and Fish Accumulate Chlorinated Hydrocarbons from Contaminated Sediments

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) originating from the sediment were taken up by zooplankton and fish in artificial ponds in the field. PCB uptake in zooplankton was concentration dependent, as levels of the residues in water varied seasonally. Planktivorous fish accumulated the compounds to high levels at high summer concentrations of PCBs in the water, after which elimination was slow. Levels of PCBs in benthic fishes continuously increased during the 1.5-yr study. The results show that chlorinated hydrocarbons deposited in sediments are available to aquatic organisms.