Bioaccumulation and toxic potential of extremely hydrophobic polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in biota collected at a superfund site contaminated with Aroclor 1268

Aroclor 1268, a highly chlorinated technical PCB mixture composed of primarily hexa- through decachlorobiphenyls, was used to lubricate high voltage process equipment at a chlor-alkali facility in coastal southeastern Georgia. Disposal of process wastes has resulted in extensive contamination of environmental media at the nearby intertidal marsh. In this study, congener distribution, bioaccumulation properties, and toxic potential of superhydrophobic PCBs were examined in blue crab, fish, terrapin, and birds collected at this site. Lipid-normalized mean concentrations of total PCBs in blue crab, striped mullet, yellow tail, sea trout, diamondback terrapin, red-winged blackbird, boat-tailed grackle, mottled duck, and clapper rail were 197, 283, 203, 56, 14, 385, 76, 135, and 10 μg/g, respectively. Hepta-, octa-, and nonachlorobiphenyls col lectively accounted for 85−93% of the total PCB concentrations. The PCB congener profile in biota resembled that of Aroclor 1268, although the relative proportions of no...