S0277-I01 



REPORT DOCUMENTATION 

 PAGE 



l._ REPORT NO. 



Biol ogical Report 85(1.7) 



3. Raci plant'* Acc*«(lon No. 



4. ntl* afKl SuMitIa 



Polychlorinated biphenyl hazards to fish, wildlife, and 

 invertebrates: a synoptic review. 



S. Raport Data 



April 1986 



7. Auttior<l) 



Ronald Eisler 



8. Parforming Organization Rapt. No. 



9. Parforrrting Organization Nama and A6dr9t% 



Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 Laurel, MD 20708 



10. Projact/Task/Work Unit No. 



11. Contract(C) or Crant(G) No. 



(C) 



(G) 



IZ. Sponsoring Organization Nama and Addrats 



13. Typa of Raport & Pariod Covarad 



14. 



15. Supplamantary Notas 



16. Abatract (Limit: 200 words) 



Entirely as a result of human activities, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are now 

 distributed worldwide, with measurable concentrations recorded in fishery and wildlife 

 resources from numerous and disparate locations. PCBs elicit a variety of biologic 

 effects including death, birth defects, tumors, and a wasting syndrome. They are 

 known to bioaccumulate and to biomagnify within the food chain. Despite a leaislative 

 ban prohibitina all uses of PCBs, existing environmental burdens pose a continuing threat 

 to susceptible organisms. 



This account summarizes the recent technical literature on the environmental chemistry of 

 PCBs; lists PCB background concentrations in fish, wildlife, and invertebrates; documents 

 their toxic and sublethal properties; and reviews and provides recommendations for the 

 protection of sensitive species. 



17. Documant Analjrsia 



Contaminants 

 Toxicity 

 Fishes 

 Wildlife 



Dascrlpton 



Natural Resources 

 Chi orohydrocarbons 



b. Idantlflan/OpatvEndad Tarmt 



Polychlorinated biphenyls 



Metabolism 



Sublethal effects 



c COSATI Flald/Qroup 



IS. Availability Statamant 



I Release unlimited 



19. Sacurlty Clatt (ThI* Raport) 



Unclassified 



2a Sacurlty Claat (This Paga) 



Unci assified 



21. No. of Pagas 



72 



22. Priea 



(Saa ANS(-Z39.1S) 



*U.S. GOVERhMENT PRIOTING OFFICE: 1986 ''73-696/65029 



Saa ln»truetlont on Ravanm 



OPTIONAL FORM 272 (4-77) 

 (Formarly NTIS-35) 

 Oepartmant of Commarca 



