Modeling bioaccumulation and biotransformation of PAHs and PCBs by benthic macrofauna from lower Chesapeake Bay
- Coll. of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA (United States)
The bioaccumulation and biotransformation of selected PAHs and PCBs from sediments spiked with radiolabeled compounds were examined in benthic communities from lower chesapeake Bay during summer and winter. Kinetic models were then used to determine the steady-state bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for the parent compounds in various benthic macrofaunal organisms, as well as the BAFs of aqueous soluble metabolites that tended to accumulate in the animals. BAFs for the parent compounds increased with the octanol-water partition coefficient (K{sub ow}) of the compound up to a log K{sub ow} of approximately 6. However, in contrast to previous studies, the elimination rate constant was the dominant factor controlling the observed nonequilibrium with respect to bioaccumulation of the organic contaminants. Consequently, BAFs for the parent contaminants were related to the physical-chemical factors regulating passive elimination, as well as metabolic transformation of the parent compound. Aqueous soluble metabolite BAFs were directly related to the physical-chemical factors dictating the rate of formation of the conjugated complexes. Overall, body burdens of organic contaminants were higher in the summer relative to winter, as were the aqueous soluble metabolite fractions of contaminants in the animals, possibly indicating that organism activities as well as lipid pools are higher in summer compared to winter. The results indicate that a variety of physical, chemical, and biological factors interact in the ecosystem to dictate bioaccumulation and biotransformation of organic contaminants.
- OSTI ID:
- 460514
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961149--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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