Polychlorinated biphenyls: metabolic behavior of pure isomers in pigeons, rats, and brook trout.

The metabolic behavior of pure mono-, di-, tetra-, and hexachlorobiphenyl isomers in pigeons, rats, and brook trout was investigated. Excreta from these animals were extracted and examined by chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques. The results showed conversion of the 4-chloro-, 4,4'-dichloro-, and 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl isomers into monohydroxylated derivatives by the rat and pigeon whereas no hydroxymetabolites were detected in the excreta of the brook trout. No hydroxylated products of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl were detected in the excreta of pigeons, rats, or brook trout.