Laboratory model ecosystem studies of the degradation and fate of radiolabeled tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyl compared with DDE.

Radiolabeled tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyls (PCB) and DDE were studied in a laboratory model ecosystem for degradation pathways, and biomagnification in alga, snail, mosquito, and fish. Trichlorobiphenyl was degraded in all the organisms of the model ecosystem much more rapidly than tetrachloro- and pentachlorobiphenyl. Pentachlorobiphenyl was approximately as persistent as DDE. There was a linear relationship between lipid/water partition and ecological magnification and between water solubility and ecological magnification. No evidence of conversion of DDE to PCB was detected.