ABSTRACT
Accumulation factor (AF) of persistent aromatic chlorohydrocarbons from pulp mill wastewater to biosludge was measured. The rank order from highest to lowest AF was alkylpolychloronaphthalenes > alkylpolychlorophenanthrenes > polychlorocymenes > alkylpolychlorobibenzyls > polychlorocymenenes. The actual concentrations in mussels (Anodonta piscinalis) and fish (Esox lucius) showed marked differences most likely due to different metabolic processes. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) estimated from dilution of the wastewater in recipient and from the concentrations in biota showed fair agreement with the observed AF (alkylpolychloronaphthalenes could not be included in this comparison due to the missing analyses in biota). The results suggest that BCF in the recipient water environment can be roughly estimated from the ratio of concentrations in biosludge and effluent.
