Bioaccumulation of PCBs in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus: Seawater and food exposures to a 14C-radiolabelled congener (PCB153): --

Adult Paracentrotus lividus were exposed to a 14C-labelled PCB congener (PCB153) using two different exposure modes: (1) the surrounding sea water and (2) the food (viz. the phanerogam Posidonia oceanica and the brown alga Taonia atomaria). Uptake kinetics from water and loss kinetics after single feeding were followed in four body compartments of the sea urchins (body wall, spines, gut and gonads). Results indicate that PCB bioaccumulation in P. lividus varies from one body compartment to another, with the exposure mode and the nature of the food. The echinoids accumulate PCB153 more efficiently when exposed via water than via the food (the transfer efficiency is higher by one order of magnitude). Target body compartments of PCBSCOPUS: ar.j