ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with mere bioconcentration of such hydrophobic chemicals from water. The real bioconcentration factor (BCF) value of a chemical has to be independent of the water concentration. Bioconcentration, toxicity, and biotic and abiotic degradation of pesticides and other chemicals in aquatic organisms are important criteria in hazard assessment. A high bioconcentration potential of a chemical substance in biota increases the probability of toxic effects being encountered in man and his environment. The evident that BCF values of superlipophilic chemicals in fish must be relatively low in cases of too short exposure times, because no steady-state can be achieved. The various chemicals, which do not bioconcentrate significantly, are relatively quickly metabolized or excreted. In several studies Octachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (OCDD) has been identified to be that polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) with the highest concentration in marine and freshwater biota, such as mussels, shrimps, and fish.
