Use of passive samplers to mimic uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by benthic polychaetes.
Experiments were conducted to test whether passive samplers made of low-density polyethylene (polyethylene devices, or PEDs) can estimate the extent of uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by benthic polychaetes (Nereis virens) in contaminated marine sediments. For a variety of PAHs, PEDs reached 90% equilibrium with sediment PAHs in 60 days or less. Using 60-day sediment bioaccumulation tests, we have demonstrated a significant relationship between PAH concentrations in the polychaetes and the PEDs (R2 = 0.67, p = 0.002), with the PEDs taking up less PAHs than the polychaetes. Because of this relationship, PEDs can potentially be used in a regulatory context to simulate uptake of bioavailable PAHs in contaminated marine sediments. The PED PAH concentrations were also used to calculate porewater PAH concentrations that allowed for the estimation of a linear free-energy relationship between the lipid-water distribution coefficient (Klip) and the octanol-water distribution coefficient (KOW) for PAH uptake in marine polychaetes (R2 = 0.94, p < 0.0001).
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. avinture@tulane.edu
Amy E
AE
Vinturella
Robert M
RM
Burgess
Brent A
BA
Coull
Kimberly M
KM
Thompson
James P
JP
Shine
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011077:Polychaeta; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D020959:Polyethylene; D012995:Solubility; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D008055:Lipids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D020959:Polyethylene