Apparent pharmacokinetics of PCB components in growing pigs and lambs when fed a ration containing Aroclor 1254.

Young growing lambs and pigs were fed a ration containing 200 ppm of Aroclor 1254 for 35 days and then switched to "clean" feed. Blood and fat samples were collected periodically throughout the experiment and analyzed for components of Aroclor 1254 and total PCB. Several components are apparently accumulated and eliminated at different rates within each species, as seen by comparing gas chromatograph tracings, accumulation ratios and apparent rate constants of elimination. Differences in accumulation and elimination of Aroclor components, some of which were apparently caused by differences in growth rates, were also seen between pigs and lambs. Variable growth rates of different species of food producing animals are an important factor to consider when dealing with tissue distribution and residues of polychlorinated biphenyls for determination of carcass disposition, as well as accumulation of toxic concentrations in the animal body.