Aroclor 1016: Toxicity to and uptake by estuarine animals

Bioassays were conducted to determine the acute toxicities of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Aroclor 1016 in flowing sea water to American oysters (Crassostrea virginica), brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), and to determine its chronic toxicity to, and uptake and retention by pinfish. Acute 96-hour EC50's or LC50's were: oysters, 10.2 μ/liter; brown shrimp, 10.5 μg/liter; grass shrimp, 12.5 μg/liter. The PCB was not toxic to pinfish at 100 μg/liter for 96 hours, but significant mortality occurred when pinfish were exposed to 32 μg/liter of Aroclor 1016 for 42 days. Pinfish exposed to 1 μg/liter for 56 days accumulated the chemical with maximum concentrations attained in whole-fish by 21 to 28 days. Maximum whole-body residue (wet weight) was 17,000 × the nominal concentration in test water. Tissue alterations, such as severe vacuolation in the pancreatic exocrine tissue surrounding the portal veins, occurred in pinfish exposed to 32 μg/liter of Aroclor 1016 for 42 days.