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Title: Bioconcentration of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic macrophytes

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00017a015· OSTI ID:5000166

This study reports the bioconcentration and the uptake and elimination kinetics of a series of nonreactive, hydrophobic organic substances in the submerged aquatic macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum. The tested substances represent a wide range of aqueous solubilities and 1-octanol-water partition coefficients (K{sub OW}). The plant-water bioconcentration factor is shown to follow a linear relationship with the octanol-water partition coefficient for all chemicals, including the superhydrophobic chemicals with log K{sub OW} up to 8.3. The uptake and elimination rate constants tend to follow a biphasic relationship with K{sub OW}. A kinetic model is developed for organic chemical bioconcentration is submerged aquatic macrophyte species. This model is applied to the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair to illustrate the role of aquatic macrophytes in chemical dynamics in aquatic systems.

OSTI ID:
5000166
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Vol. 25:5; ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English