Accumulation and depuration of sediment-sorbed C{sub 12}- and C{sub 16}-polychlorinated alkanes by oligochaetes (Lumbriculus variegatus)
- Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada). Dept. of Soil Science
- ORECL, St. Anne, Manitoba (Canada)
- Stockholm Univ. (Sweden)
- Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario (Canada). National Water Research Inst.
Oligochaetes (Lumbriculus variegatus) were exposed to sediment spiked with four {sup 14}C-polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs) (C{sub 12}H{sub 20}Cl{sub 6} [56% Cl by weight], C{sub 12}H{sub 16}Cl{sub 10} [69% Cl], C{sub 16}H{sub 31}Cl{sub 3} [35% Cl], and C{sub 16}H{sub 21}Cl{sub 13} [69% Cl]) to measure bioaccumulation parameters and biotransformation. Chlorinated paraffins are industrial products that consist of thousands of different PCAs. Chlorinated paraffins are hydrophobic and are reported to have relatively high concentrations in sediment compared with other persistent organochlorines; however, no data exist on their bioavailability from sediment. The PCAs C{sub 12}H{sub 20}Cl{sub 6}, C{sub 12}H{sub 16}Cl{sub 10}, and C{sub 16}H{sub 31}Cl{sub 3} were readily available to sediment-ingesting oligochaetes, whereas C{sub 16}H{sub 21}Cl{sub 13} had lower bioavailability. Uptake rates of the C{sub 12}-PCAs were greater than the C{sub 16}-PCAs, but half-lives (t{sub {1/2}}s) were greater for the C{sub 16}-PCAs (t{sub {1/2}} = 30-33 d) than for the C{sub 12}-PCAs (t{sub {1/2}} = 12-14 d). Biota-sediment accumulation factors were >1 for C{sub 12}H{sub 20}Cl{sub 6}, C{sub 12}H{sub 16} Cl{sub 10}, and C{sub 16}H{sub 31}Cl{sub 3}, but <1 for C{sub 16}H{sub 21}Cl{sub 13}. Comparison of toluene-extractable and -nonextractable {sup 14}C suggest that PCAs were biotransformed in aerobic sediments and by oligochaetes, and that the susceptibility to degradation in sediments decreases with increasing chlorine content. The relative abundance of individual PCAs may differ between sediment and benthic invertebrates because of differences in the bioaccumulation and degradation of PCAs of varying carbon chain length and chlorine content.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 290163
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 17, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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