Uptake of kepone by aquatic macrophytes

Arrowarum [Peltandra virginica (L.) Schott and Endl.], waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms], American bulrush [Scirpus americanus (Pers.)], and smooth cordgrass [Spartina alterniflora (Loisel.)] removed Kepone® (dechachloro-octahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta[cd] pentelen-2-one) from water. ¹⁴C-Kepone was translocated from roots and accumulated in small, but significant, quantities in the aerial portions of the plants. Approximately 80% of the ¹⁴C-Kepone was removed from solution within three days by arrowarum, and waterhyacinth, however, very little additional Kepone was accumulated by these species after the initial three day exposure. Kepone uptake by the roots of American bulrush and smooth cordgrass appeared to continue for a seven day period. Translocation to the aerial portions of the plants was slow, with significant quantities reaching the shoot after seven days. Additional ¹⁴C-labelled compounds were detected in shoot and root extracts, indicating possible metabolism of the Kepone molecule by these plants.