Distinct biomagnification of chlorinated persistent organic pollutants in adjacent aquatic and terrestrial food webs

Biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in food webs has been studied for many years. However, the different processes and influencing factors in biomagnification of POPs in aquatic and terrestrial food webs still need clarification. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) were measured in organisms from adjacent terrestrial and aquatic environment in this study. The median levels of PCBs in terrestrial and aquatic organisms were 21.7-138 ng/g lw and 37.1-149 ng/g lw, respectively. SCCP concentrations were 18.6-87.3 mu g/g lw and 21.4-93.9 mu g/g lw in terrestrial and aquatic organisms, respectively. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) of PCBs increased with higher log K-OW in all food chains. BMFs of SCCPs were negatively correlated with log K-OW in aquatic food chains, but positively correlated with log K-OW in terrestrial food chains. The terrestrial food web had similar trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of PCBs, and higher TMFs of SCCPs than the aquatic food web. Biomagnification of PCBs was consistent in aquatic and terrestrial food webs, while SCCPs had higher biomagnification potential in terrestrial than aquatic organisms. The distinct biomagnification of SCCPs was affected by the respiratory elimination for terrestrial organisms, the different metabolism rates in various species, and more homotherms in terrestrial food webs. Fugacity model can well predict levels of less hydrophobic chemicals, and warrants more precise toxicokinetic data of SCCPs.

Automated summary

This study measured the biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in organisms from adjacent terrestrial and aquatic environments. The results showed that the biomagnification of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was consistent in both food webs, while short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) had higher biomagnification potential in terrestrial than aquatic organisms. The different processes and influencing factors in biomagnification of POPs in aquatic and terrestrial food webs were determined, including the respiratory elimination for terrestrial organisms and the different metabolism rates in various species. The fugacity model was found to predict levels of less hydrophobic chemicals accurately, but more precise toxicokinetic data of SCCPs are needed.