Development of a toxicity-based fractionation approach for the identification of phototoxic PAHs in pore water
- Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States)
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Superior, WI (United States)
Environmental matrices often contain complex mixtures of chemical compounds, however, typically only a few chemicals are responsible for observed toxicity. To determine those chemicals responsible for toxicity, a toxicity-based fractionation technique coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been used for the isolation and identification of nonpolar toxicants in aqueous samples. In this study, this technique was modified to separate and identify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) responsible for phototoxicity in pore water. Whole pore water, obtained from sediments collected near an oil refinery discharge site, was found to be toxic to Lumbriculus variegatus in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light. Solid phase extraction disks and high pressure liquid chromatography were used, in conjunction with toxicity tests with L. variegatus, to extract and fractionate phototoxic chemicals from the pore water. GC/MS analysis was performed on the toxic fractions and a tentative list of compound identifications were made based on interpretation of mass spectra and elution information from the chromatographic separation. The compounds identified include PAHs and substituted PAHs that are known or predicted to be phototoxic in the presence of UV light. The results show that a modified toxicity-based fractionation approach can be successfully applied to identify phototoxic PAHs in sediment pore water and therefore used in the assessment of contaminated sediments.
- OSTI ID:
- 367433
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ANNELIDS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
INTERSTITIAL WATER
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SEDIMENTS
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WATER POLLUTION