Evaluation of mirex, photomirex and chlordecone in the terrestrial aquatic laboratory model ecosystem.

The insecticides mirex and chlordecone and the mirex photodegradation product, photomirex, were evaluated in a terrestrial aquatic laboratory model ecosystem. Although chlordecone was to some extent degraded during the 33 days, neither mirex nor photomirex produced identifiable levels of decomposition products in the water or in any of the organisms of the model ecosystem. All three compounds accumulated significantly in the organisms of the model ecosystem, with chlordecone the least bioaccumulative and photomirex the most bioaccumulative.