title: ISTA 14-in-situ accumulation of PAHs in low-density polyethylene membranes in sediment.
abstract: The use of passive samplers for the assessment of organic contaminants has been extended to solid matrixes for the past decade. Passive sampling is usually applied to sediment in laboratory experiments involving significant upheaval, whereas in-situ experiments remain rare. In this study, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) strips were deployed within the sediments of a small river contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). LDPE strips were deployed in the 3-cm depth sediment layer. Over a period of 36 days, LDPE strips were regularly retrieved and accumulated PAHs in LDPE were extracted and analyzed. Accumulations of hydrophobic contaminants in LDPE directly exposed in the sediment were observed. Accumulations in LDPE were observed for moderately hydrophobic PAHs with the highest concentrations in the sediment. Low accumulations were observed for more hydrophobic compounds, despite their presence in high concentrations in the sediment. This was explained by very low exchange rates and competitive interactions with particles in the sediment.
authors.affiliation: Cemagref, Centre de Martinique, UR PRAM - Quartier Petit Morne - BP 214, Lamentin 97 285, France.
authors.forename: Damien A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Devault
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Combe
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gourlay-Francé
mesh_terms: D003903:Deuterium / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000032:analysis*; D016062:Porosity; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D020959:Polyethylene; D003903:Deuterium