Effects of quantity, quality, and contact time of dissolved organic matter on bioconcentration of benzo[a]pyrene in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620180314· OSTI ID:355590

Haitzer, M; Hoess, S ^[1]; Burnison, B K ^[2]; Traunspurger, W ^[1]; Steinberg, C E.W. ^[3]

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1. Ludwig Maximilians Univ. Muenchen (Germany). Zoologisches Inst.
2. Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario (Canada). National Water Research Inst.
3. Inst. fuer Gewaesseroekologie und Binnenfischerei, Berlin (Germany)

Quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the time allowed for DOM to interact with organic contaminants can influence their bioavailability. The authors studied the effect of natural aquatic DOM that had been in contact with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) for 1 to 12 d on the bioconcentration of B[a]P in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Dissolved organic matter quality and quantity was varied by using DOM from three different sources, each in three different concentrations. A model, based on the assumption that only freely dissolved B[a]P is bioavailable, was employed to estimate biologically determined partition coefficients [K{sub p}(biol.)]. Expressing the data for each combination of DOM source and contact time in a single K{sub p} (biol.) value allowed a direct comparison of the effects of different DOM qualities and contact times. The results show that the effect of DOM from a specific source was dependent on DOM quantity, but they also observed a distinct effect of DOM quality (represented by different sampling locations) on the bioconcentration of B[a]P. Contact time had no significant influence for the effects of two DOM sources on the bioconcentration of B[a]P. However, the third DOM source was significantly more effective with increased contact time, leading to lower B[a]P bioconcentration in the nematodes.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 355590
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 18; ISSN 0730-7268; ISSN ETOCDK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ANNELIDS
BENZOPYRENE
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORGANIC MATTER
WATER POLLUTION