Biogeochemical processes governing exposure and uptake of organic pollutant compounds in aquatic organisms

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3430848· OSTI ID:5010780

Farrington, J W ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Massachusetts, Boston (United States)

This paper reviews current knowledge of biogeochemical cycles of pollutant organic chemicals in aquatic ecosystems with a focus on coastal ecosystems. There is a bias toward discussing chemical and geochemical aspects of biogeochemical cycles and an emphasis on hydrophobic organic compounds such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and chlorinated organic compounds used as pesticides. The complexity of mixtures of pollutant organic compounds, their various modes of entering ecosystems, and their physical chemical forms are discussed. Important factors that influence bioavailability and disposition (e.g., organism-water partitioning, uptake via food, food web transfer) are reviewed. These factors included solubilities of chemicals; partitioning of chemicals between solid surfaces, colloids, and soluble phases; variables rates of sorption, desorption; and physiological status of organism. It appears that more emphasis on considering food as a source of uptake and bioaccumulation is important in benthic and epibenthic ecosystems when sediment-associated pollutants are a significant source of input to an aquatic ecosystem. Progress with mathematical models for exposure and uptake of contaminant chemicals is discussed briefly.

• OSTI ID: 5010780
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Vol. 90; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
UPTAKE
COASTAL WATERS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
3-METHYLCHOLANTHRENE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENTHOS
CHESAPEAKE BAY
FISHES
JAMES RIVER
KEPONE
NAPHTHALENE
SOLUBILITY
STRIPED BASS
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BAYS
CHEMISTRY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
ECOSYSTEMS
GEOCHEMISTRY
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
INSECTICIDES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
RIVERS
SEAS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology