UPTAKE OF HYDROPHOBIC HALOGENATED AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS FROM FOOD BY EARTHWORMS (EISENIA-ANDREI)

The intestinal uptake of hydrophobic halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons by the earthworm Eisenia andrei was studied. In one experiment, worms were fed a single dose of manure contaminated with three chlorobenzenes, one polychlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) and octachloronaphthalene (OCN). Body burdens were followed during the subsequent 6 days. In the second experiment, worms were fed penta- and hexachlorobenzene, using multiple oral doses during 70 days. Steady state was reached in this experiment. Uptake efficiencies (E) derived by three different methods varied between 2.5 and 6.5% for 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene and OCN, and between 8.5 and 22% for the other compounds. Biomagnification factors (BMF) calculated for penta- and hexachlorobenzene using the body burdens at steady state were 0.03 and 0.07, respectively.