Modelling bioaccumulation of semi-volatile organic compounds (SOCs) from air in plants based on allometric principles.
A model was developed for gaseous plant-air exchange of semi-volatile organic compounds. Based on previous soil-plant modelling, uptake and elimination kinetics were scaled as a function of plant mass and octanol-air partition ratios. Exchange of chemicals was assumed to be limited by resistances encountered during diffusion through a laminar boundary layer of air and permeation through the cuticle of the leaf. The uptake rate constant increased and the elimination rate constant decreased with the octanol-air partition ratio both apparently levelling off at high values. Differences in kinetics between species could be explained by their masses. Validation on independent data showed that bio-concentration factors of PCBs, chlorobenzenes and other chemicals were predicted well by the model. For pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins deviations occurred.
Steyaert
Nils L L
NL
Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Hauck
Mara
M
Van Hulle
Stijn W H
SW
Hendriks
A Jan
AJ
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D000442:Octanols / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D000442:Octanols; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds