title: Passive samplers versus surfactant extraction for the evaluation of PAH availability in sediments with variable levels of contamination.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to test the efficiency of passive solid samplers, polyoxymethylene (POM) strips and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) silicon tubing, to predict the bioavailability of native PAHs in contaminated sediments. Results were compared with worm bioaccumulation data and solid/liquid extraction using the surfactant Brij((R)) 700 (B700). The two passive samplers were found to act differently. The PDMS sampler overestimated the availability of PAHs in all studied sediments. The POM method provided results in accordance with those obtained with the B700 extraction. However, POM and B700 methods underestimated PAH availability in low contaminated sediments where biological factors (digestible organic matter) become important. Bioavailability of total PAHs was correctly predicted by POM and B700 in highly contaminated aluminum smelter sediments. A closer examination of individual PAH results indicated that both techniques overestimated the availability of large molecules with logK(ow)>6 suggesting a biological mechanism limiting uptake of larger PAHs which seems to be related to the molecular size of compounds.
authors.affiliation: Institut des sciences de la mer à Rimouski (ISMER), Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski (Qc), Canada G5L 3A1.
authors.forename: Mickaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barthe
authors.forename: Emilien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Gijs D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Breedveld
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical