TOXICITY, ACCUMULATION AND ELIMINATION STUDIES OF ALPHA-HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE (ALPHA-HCH) WITH SALTWATER ORGANISMS OF DIFFERENT TROPHIC LEVELS

A short-term study with α-HCH was carried out with saltwater organisms of different trophic levels the alga-Dunaliella, the crustacean-Artemia, and the fish-Lebistes, acclimated to water of gradually increased salinity. Within the solubility range of α-HCH in saltwater (1.4 mg l-1) there was no influence on the growth of Dunaliella. The LC50 (4 days) for Artemia was 0.5 mg l-1, the EC50 (2 and 4 days)-E = mortality and immobilization, for Lebistes was 1.4 and 1.3 mg l-1 respectively. In the longterm study the LC10 (35 days) for Lebistes proved to be 0.5 mg l-1. In the accumulation studies the concentration factor was about 60-90 with Artemia and about 500 with Lebistes; equilibrium levels were reached within 24 and 48 h respectively. In the elimination studies the α-HCH concentration was halved within 48-72 h in Artemia and within 10 h in Lebistes. © 1978.