Photoinduced toxicity of sediment-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known to be both mutagenic and toxic. Light, in particular UV irradiation, increases their toxicity. Since aquatic plants cannot avoid PAHs or light, they are at risk. However, the major loadings of PAHs are in sediment. In this study the authors examined the assimilation of both intact and photomodified labelled PAHs bound to a surrogate, sediment (sand) by the higher aquatic plant Lemna gibba L. G-3. They found that simulated solar radiation significantly promoted the release of PAHs from sand and their assimilation by Lemna, although assimilation from the solid phase was slower than for chemicals placed directly into the aqueous medium. Toxicity of PAHs bound to sand was then measured by exposing plants to the sand-chemical composite for 8 d. Plants were exposed to both visible and SSR light conditions during this period, and toxicity was measured as inhibition of growth, inhibition of photosynthesis (chlorophyll fluorescence induction) and chlorosis. All three endpoints indicated that PAHs bound to a sediment phase can express phototoxicity and that the effects are most strongly promoted by the UV region of the solar spectrum. The authors have now extended this work to probe the effects of UV-B and PAHs on chloroplast development, with the finding that both stresses inhibit development of the photosynthetic apparatus.
- OSTI ID:
- 49595
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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