Bioconcentration of chlorinated biphenyls in biota from the North Pacific Ocean

This study examined polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener bioconcentration patterns in tissues of marine biota (macrophytes, urchins, mollusks, sea cucumbers, fishes) at Midway Atoll, North Pacific Ocean. Calculated mean lipid-normalized logarithmic bioconcentration factors (log BCFL) for PCB congeners in various marine species ranged from 3.75 to 6.97. The relationship between log BCFL and the logarithmic n-octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) can be adequately described by species-specific parabolic models wherein log BCFL generally increases then decreases with increases in log Kow. With the exception of a bilinear model, a variety of hydrophobicity models were generally not successful in closely predicting measured tissue residue concentrations as a function of log Kow. There is no evidence of a consistent pattern of progressive increase in bioconcentration of PCB congeners with increasing trophic level in this nearshore aquatic ecosystem.