US EPA

2181223 

Journal Article 

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) solubilized in water by nonionic surfactants for studies of toxity to aquatic animals 

Zitko, V 

1970 

Yes 

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 

5 

3 

279-285 

English 

23989284 

10.1007/BF01558327 

MEDLINE:23989284 

HAPAB The solubilization pf polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs ) in water by nonionic surfactants, the determination of PCB concentration by UV spectrophotometry, fluorescence and gas-liquid chromatography ( GLC ), some properties of aqueous PCB solution and preliminary results on the toxicity of PCBs to Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) parr were investigated. Aroclor 1221 and 1254 ( 500 mg each ) were dissolved in 9500 mg of the commercial emulsifier Corexit 7664 and the volume adjusted to 50 ml with distilled water. Tap or seawater was used for further dilutions. Each Aroclor ( 1.5 ml ) was added to fresh or seawater ( 50 ml each ), homogenized and the resultant emulsion was centrifuged. Spectrophotometric and GLC analyses of the supernatant revealed a fractionation occurred in which the dissolved fraction was richer in lower chlorinated biphenyls than the original preparation. The solubility of one batch of Aroclor 1254 was found to be 2 to 3 mg / l in fresh and 1 to 1.5 mg/1 in seawater. Another batch of Aroclor 1254, containing only traces of lower chlorinated biphenyls, was soluble at the rates of 0.3 to 0.5 ml/1 in both fresh and seawater. Aroclor 1221 was soluble at concentrations of 5.0 and 3.8 mg/1 in fresh and seawater, respectively. Solutions of PCB in ethylene adduct of lauric acid and in ethylene adduct of 2,6,8-trimethyl-4-nonanol each required isopropanol ( 0.6 g/g PCB ) to yield a clear solution on dilution with water. When the weight ratio of the PCBs to 2,6,8- trimethyl-4-nonanol was increased, no isopropanol was required to produce the clear solution. Acetone ( 1.5 g/g PCB ) may be used instead of isopropanol, but the same amount of dimethyl sulfoxide was not effective. PCBs in Corexit 7664 ( 1:19 ), which contains isopropanol, also gave a clear solution on dilution with water. Two salmon parr were placed in 2 L of each concentration of Aroclor-Corexit 7664 solution for 192 hr. Samples were withdrawn at intervals and the Aroclor concentration determined by spectrophotometry or fluorescence. Both Aroclors were lethal to salmon parr in concentrations greater than 2 mg/l. Corexit 7664 may enhance the toxicity of PCBs by providing a better contact between fish and the PCB than with PCBs in an organic solvent or PCBs mechanically dispersed in water. Preliminary tests indicate that PCBs may be less toxic to Atlantic salmon than chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides.