Uptake of polychlorobiphenyl congeners by purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) on the banks of the Hudson River

Transport of 42 polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners was investigated in L. salicaria from a PCB contaminated site on the banks of the Hudson river and from an uncontaminated site 2 miles distant. PCB concentrations in soil, air and loosestrife were 119 mg per g, 141 ng per m3 and 17.3 ng per g respectively at the Hudson river site, and 30.2 ng per g, less than 40 ng per m3, and 7.2 ng per g respectively at the control site. Plants from both sites showed a similar congener pattern. Uptake via roots and uptake from air were determined by transplanting and translocating loosestrife between sites. Uptake from ambient air was also measured using a 0.2 m3 field sampling chamber. Results showed that uptake of PCB's was primarily systemic, with some scavenging from the air at high ambient PCB concentrations (140 ng per m3). At low ambient concentrations (8 ng per m3), 2-chlorobiphenyl and 2,2-dichlorobiphenyl were emitted from plant leaves.