Half-lives and bioconcentration of lindane (γ-HCH) in different fish species and relationship with their lipid content

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 343 - 351
• Main Authors: Geyer, H.J., Scheunert, I., Brüggemann, R., Langer, D., Korte, F., Kettrup, A., Mansour, M., Steinberg, C.E.W., Nyholm, N., Muir, D.C.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1997
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/S0045-6535(97)00160-4

In this investigation it is demonstrated that the half-lives of the insecticide lindane (γ-HCH) in mussels and different fish species are dependent on their lipid content. It is found that the bioconcentration factors on a wet weight basis (BCF w) of γ-HCH in different aquatic organisms such as mussels, Daphnia, and fishes range from 43 to 4240. It is further demonstrated that the bioconcentration factors on a wet weight basis are positively correlated with the lipid content (%). The mean bioconcentration factor on a lipid basis (BCF L) of γ-HCH is 11,000. This BCF L value is in satisfactory agreement with the log K ow value of lindane (4.10).