Influence of primary producers on bioavailability of desorption resistant organic pollutants in the sediments

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2006

Abstract

The experiments were conducted on three freshwater microalgal strains, which were grown in the top chambers of retrofitted filter assemblies. The bottom receivers contained control sediments and two types of 14C-labeled, phenanthrene contaminated sediments. The first contaminated sediment had both the reversible and desorption resistant fractions (referred to as partially washed sediment), while the second contaminated sediment had the desorption resistant fraction only (completely washed sediment). A second set of controls was added to isolate the effect of micro algae. Despite minor variations in toxicity, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the growth curves of the three algal strains. From a bioavailability perspective, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in desorption rates in chambers containing microalgae. Pooled data from the three cultures indicated that, for assemblies with desorption resistant sediment (completely washed) and microalgae, the top chamber phenanthrene concentrations were approximately 90-100% of the theoretical maximum concentrations. However, filter assemblies without microalgae had only 5-6% of the theoretical maximum. Results also indicated that approximately 91.7-92.4% of the desorbed phenanthrene is directly sequestered by the microalgae in assemblies with the completely washed sediment. These results indicated that the term "desorption-resistant" fraction from a purely physical perspective may not be truly desorption-resistant in presence of microalgae. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Soil and Sediment Contamination

First Page

299

Last Page

314

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS