"Factors influencing the bioaccumulation of chlorinated hydrocarbons by" by Donna Christine. Bedard

Date of Award

1990

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.

Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords

Biology, Limnology.

Supervisor

Ciberowski, J. J. H.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The toxicokinetics of $\sp{14}$C-Hexachlorobenzene by the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia were studied in laboratory microcosms. Mayflies exhibited a rapid uptake and elimination of HCB for water and sediment tests with a resultant half-life of 14 hours. Mayflies obtained 98% of the chemical from sediment and 2% from water. Field-collected mayflies and associated sediments were sampled from a location in Lake St. Clair from July to September, 1987. The samples were analyzed for contaminant concentrations of penta- and hexachlorobenzene, octachlorostyrene and 6 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners. A linear positive relationship was found between log BAF and the logarithm of the chemicals octanol-water partition coefficient. A laboratory substrate selection experiment indicated Hexagenia nymphs avoided a coarse-textured sediment but did not discriminated among the 3 finer-grained sediments of varying sand content with equivalent organic composition. In a separate experiment, mayflies actively avoided contaminated sediment in favor of a cleaner substrate of similar particle composition. Natural populations of mayfly nymphs in Lake St. Clair reach maximum abundance in fine, organic-rich sediments and are tolerant of "in situ" chemical concentrations in Lake St. Clair. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1990 .B443. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 30-03, page: 0637. Co-Chairmen: J. J. H. Ciborowski; G. D. Haffner. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1990.

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