Research Product

Aquatic life criteria: for polychlorinated biphenyls the criterion to protect freshwater aquatic life as derived using the guidelines is 0.014 Microgram/l as a 24-hour average. The concentration of 0.014 Microgram/l is probably too high because it is based on bioconcentration factors measured in laboratory studies, but field studies apparently produce factors at least ten times higher for fishes. The available data indicate that acute toxicity to freshwater aquatic life probably will only occur at concentrations above 2.0 Microgram/l and that the 24-hour average should provide adequate protection against acute toxicity. For polychlorinated biphenyls the criterion to protect saltwater aquatic life as derived using the guidelines is 0.030 Microgram/l as a 24-hour average. The concentration of 0.030 Microgram/l is probably too high because it is based on bioconcentration factors measured in laboratory studies, but field studies apparently produce factors at least ten times higher for fishes. The available data indicate that acute toxicity to saltwater aquatic life probably will only occur at concentrations above 10 microgram/l and that the 24-hour average criterion should provide adequate protection against acute toxicity.