FACTORS AFFECTING THE EVALUATION OF CHEMICALS IN LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS USING MARINE ORGANISMS

Two marine invertebrates, the common mussel, Mytilus edulis, and the polychaete, Lanice conchilega, have been selected to demonstrate effects influencing the determination of concentration factors using α-HCH, γ-HCH, and pentachlorophenol as test substances. Bioconcentration factors were measured at steady-state concentrations in a static system. Species difference and lipid content of the animals appeared to seriously affect bioconcentration factors. Variation of temperature, and metabolic activity, as conjugation of PCP in the mussels, showed no remarkable effect. A tentative translation of laboratory data to the environment has been made with acceptable results. © 1979.