Logo image
Back
The metabolism and comparative elimination of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in termites
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The metabolism and comparative elimination of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in termites

V S Haritos, John R J French and J T Ahokas
Chemosphere, Vol.26(7), pp.1291-1299
1993
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(93)90182-5
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(93)90182-5View
Published Version

Abstract

termites metabolism
Termites may serve as a potential supplementary food source for fish, poultry and pigs. Waste paper may be used as a source of food in mass rearing the termites. However, paper products and printing inks contain trace levels of toxic xenobiotics e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins. This study examined the ability of Mastotermes darwinensis and Coptotermes acinaciformis to metabolise these xenobiotics when fed paper as a food source. A series of PCBs was used as model lipophilic xenobiotics and fed to two species of termite. Extracted whole termites and their faeces were analysed for content of PCBs and metabolites. A phenolic metabolite of 4, 4′-dichlorobiphenyl (44-DCB) was extracted and identified from the bodies and faeces of both termite species. 2, 2′, 4, 4′, 5, 5′-Hexachlorobiphenyl (224455-HCB) was retained in termite bodies at a significantly higher concentration than 3, 3′, 4, 4′, 5, 5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (334455-HCB) when fed the congeners in paper at the same concentration.

Details

Metrics

4 File views/ downloads
660 Record Views
4 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas
Environmental Sciences

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

Logo image