Research Product

A study of the response of benthic communities exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP) was conducted to obtain additional information on the effects of this widely used chemical on the estuarine environment and to compare its effect on estuarine benthic communities developed in the field and in the laboratory. PCP is used as a wood preservative, and insecticide, a fungicide and a bactericide, and is toxic to many aquatic organisms. In earlier laboratory experiments, developing benthic communities, from planktonic larvae settling in sand-filled aquaria, were continuously exposed to PCP. In the present study, already established communities were exposed to PCP.