Bioaccumulation of PAHs by the estuarine polychaete, Streblospio benedicti: Comparison between radioisotope and GC/MS analyses
- Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States)
Bioaccumulation of sediment associated organic contaminants can be measured using traditional analytical approaches such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, or by employing radioisotope techniques. The authors compared these methods by measuring bioaccumulation of common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments by the opportunistic deposit/suspension feeding polychaete, Streblospio benedicti. First, the authors exposed S. benedicti to {sup 14}C-fluoranthene for 28 days. On days 3, 6, 10, 18, and 28, worms were sampled and measured for {sup 14}C activity. They performed a similar 28d test with three non radiolabeled PAHs (fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and 1,2-benzanthracene). The S. benedicti body burden of each compound was quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results from the radioisotope assay indicate that S. benedicti accumulates sediment associated {sup 14}C-fluoranthene at a level 95-135X that of sediment after 28d. Differences between detected {sup 14}C activity and GC/MS measured fluoranthene in S. benedicti tissue may indicate transformation of the parent PAH to other compounds which could retain a radiolabel. GC/MS in turn may indicate the presence of a metabolic pathway which polychaetes such as S. benedicti utilize to eliminate PAH body burdens.
- OSTI ID:
- 458315
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961149--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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