Abstract
In this study, accumulation characteristics of PCB from sea water to mussel, sampled from 10 points in Osaka Bay and the Open Sea of Harima, were discussed to estimate whether PCB content in mussel reflect PCB pollution in water body and is applicabile as a bioindicator. PCB content in mussel was shown to reflect the PCB level and characteristics in water from the viewpoints of Total PCB (PCBs), homologues and isomers. Concentration factor of PCBs from sea water to mussel was around 20,000. Concentration factors of each homologue increase with Cl number of PCBs until 6 and then decrease. Those values of homologues with Cl number of 5, 6, and 7 were 70000±44700, 92500±38900 and 55900±43000. It was also shown that the distribution patterns of homologue of PCB can be used to estimate the source of PCB pollution with principal component analysis. The distribution of PCB isomers in each component of mussel are almost similar except for bysus whose PCB content is negrigible. From these results, mussel is clearly difined to an excellent bioindicator of PCB pollution in water body.
