Use of nonpolar resin for reduction of fluoranthene bioavailability in sediment
- Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States). National Health and Environmental Effects Research Lab.
- City of Superior, WI (United States). Waste Water Treatment Plant
- Coll. of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA (United States). Virginia Inst. of Marine Science
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Ambersorb{reg_sign} 1500, a carbonaceous resin, for reducing the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment. Initial studies were conducted with a model PAH, fluoranthene, to determine how effective the resin would be at reducing fluoranthene concentrations in water and sediment pore water. Fluoranthene concentrations were reduced by more than 70% within 24 h when 0.1 g of unconditioned resin was added to 500-ml solutions containing 160 {micro}g/L fluoranthene. Within 48 h, concentrations decreased by more than 92%. Addition of Ambersorb to fluoranthene-spiked sediment showed similar reductions of fluoranthene concentrations in pore water. Based on these initial results, a 10-d bioaccumulation/toxicity experiment was conducted in which the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus was exposed to fluoranthene-spiked sediment with and without resin. Chemical analyses showed that sediment amended with resin had greatly diminished pore-water fluoranthene concentrations compared with sediment without resin. Proportional reductions in whole-body fluoranthene concentrations were observed in oligochaetes exposed to resin-amended sediments. As would be expected from enhancement of fluoranthene toxicity by ultraviolet light, organisms exposed to fluoranthene-spiked sediment exhibited significant mortality upon subsequent exposure to ultraviolet light. Consistent with their lower body burdens, organisms from resin-treated sediment lacked this sensitivity (100% survival). These experiments demonstrate that Ambersorb 1500 effectively reduces the bioavailability of fluoranthene in spiked sediment. Additional studies are needed to define the boundaries of the resin`s effectiveness in influencing the bioavailability of other PAHs and nonpolar organic chemicals in spiked and field-contaminated sediments.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 361922
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 18, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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