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Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification of Hydrophobic Persistent Compounds as Exemplified by Hexachlorobenzene

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Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Environmental Management ((SSEM))

Summary

Information reflecting the present state of knowledge about bioaccumulation of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and other hydrophobic organochlorines has been compiled. In this critical review, some possible pitfalls in the interpretation of experimental results and field data on bioaccumulation are pointed out. Starting from “the fugacity model” approach, some new hypotheses are presented on the relationship between bioaccumulation and different abiotic and biotic factors. Among the processes discussed, special attention has been given to the uptake of xenobiotics with food. A better understanding of the mechanisms of nutrient absorption in the gut seems to be crucial in this context. Furthermore, biomagnification or food chain transfer resulting in an increase in concentration with trophic level is considered. It is concluded that although biomagnification of some organochlorines may be detected in the aquatic environment, the phenomenon has a low magnitude unless the airbreathing aquatic animals are included in the analysis.

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Authors
  1. Rolf Ekelund
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  1. Swedish Environmental Research Group, Götgatan 35, 116 21, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lars Landner

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Ekelund, R. (1989). Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification of Hydrophobic Persistent Compounds as Exemplified by Hexachlorobenzene. In: Landner, L. (eds) Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment. Springer Series on Environmental Management. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61334-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61334-0_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64796-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-61334-0

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