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Estimation of congener-specific PCB uptake rate constants for the semi-permeable membrane device in contaminated groundwater

Conference ·
OSTI ID:458342
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. National Biological Service, Columbia, MO (United States). Midwest Science Center
  2. Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University Park, PA (United States)
The Semipermeable Membrane Device (SPMD) mimics the bioconcentration of organic pollutants from water by aquatic organisms. A major problem encountered with its use is the lack of calibration data to accurately relate amounts of accumulated contaminants to the concentrations of those compounds in the environment. The rate of uptake of a dissolved contaminant by the SPMD is generally related to its octanol/water coefficient (K{sub ow}). This parameter along with other physical characteristics of the solute molecule, combine to affect the compound`s relative rate of accumulation, its uptake rate constant. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and SPMDs were exposed to PCB-contaminated groundwater in a spring for 28 days to calculate and compare uptake rates of specific PCB congeners by the two matrices. Water samples from the spring were collected and analyzed concurrently for PCB congeners and organic carbon content (TOC). Whole water concentrations were adjusted for TOC-sorbed contaminants. Total dissolved PCB concentrations varied from 1.1--1.6 {micro}g/L during the exposure. Total concentrations of PCBs in fish rose from 0.06 to 118.3 {micro}g/g during the 28 day exposure, while concentrations in the SPMD rose from 0.03 to 203.4 {micro}g/g. The pattern of congener uptake by the fish and SPMDs was very similar, with rates of uptake generally increasing with increasing K{sub ow}. Sampling rates by the SPMD ranged from 1.5 L/d for congener 019 to 32.3 L/d for congener 201.
OSTI ID:
458342
Report Number(s):
CONF-961149--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English