Toxicity and distribution of Aroclor® 1254 in the pink shrimp Penaeus duorarum

The polychlorinated biphenyl Aroclor^® 1254 was released in an accidental leakage of heat-exchange fluid from an industrial plant, into the Escambia River, near Pensacola, Florida, USA. This material was carried downstream, and is now found in the fauna of Escambia Bay and its contiguous waters, prime nursery areas for fishes and invertebrates such as penaeid shrimp. The significance of pollution by this chemical was assessed by establishing toxicity levels, determining routes of entry, and investigating its movement and distribution in various tissues of shrimp under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Aroclor 1254 added to the water was toxic to the juvenile pink shrimp Penaeus duorarum at a concentration of 1.0 part per billion within 15 days, but was less® Registered trademark, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri, Mention of commercial products does not constitute endorsement by the Environmental Protection Agency.Contribution No. 128, Gulf Breeze Laboratory.