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Bioavailability of fluoranthene in freshwater sediment toxicity tests
Author(s) -
Suedel Burton C.,
Rodgers John H.,
Clifford Philip A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620120116
Subject(s) - hyalella azteca , fluoranthene , daphnia magna , environmental chemistry , chironomus , sediment , bioavailability , total organic carbon , ecotoxicology , daphnia , chemistry , environmental science , ecology , biology , toxicity , amphipoda , chironomidae , crustacean , paleontology , phenanthrene , bioinformatics , organic chemistry , larva
To examine equilibrium‐partitioning model predictions of interstitial water concentrations of fluoranthene as part of the equilibrium‐partitioning (EqP) approach to sediment quality criteria development, the bioavailability (toxicity) of fluoranthene‐amended sediment (a nonpolar organic compound) to Hyalella azteca, Daphnia magna , and Chironomus tentans was determined. Fluoranthene was added to three freshwater sediments with similar organic carbon content (0.44‐0.50%). Although sediments were from divergent sources (Water Research Field Station [WRFS], Trinity River [TR], and Lake Fork [LF]), sediment physical and chemical characteristics did not vary appreciably, leading us to hypothesize (based on EqP theory) that fluoranthene‐amended sediment toxicity would not vary between sediments. Predicted interstitial water concentrations from the equilibrium‐partitioning model were similar to measured interstitial water concentrations for WRFS and TR sediment, but the model underpredicted measured values for LF sediment by a factor of two. EC50s for Daphnia magna, Hyalella azteca , and Chironomus tentans in interstitial water were a factor of two to five greater for LF than for WRFS and TR sediments. Factors other than organic carbon content of sediments (e.g., dissolved organic carbon content in interstitial water) probably contributed to the variability in bioavailability of fluoranthene. Based on 10‐d sediment toxicity tests with Hyalella azteca, Daphnia magna , and Chironomus tentans , organic carbon‐normalized sediment concentrations were better predictors of toxicity than interstitial water and bulk sediment fluoranthene concentrations. In 10‐d aqueous‐phase tests with fluoranthene, Chironomus tentans and Hyalella azteca were twice as sensitive as Daphnia magna. The response of freshwater organisms to fluoranthene‐amended sediment was similar to that of marine organisms exposed to fluoranthene in other studies. The EqP approach for sediment‐quality criteria accurately predicted sediment toxicity for WRFS and TR sediments but not for LF sediment, indicating the model may be overly protective for some bottom sediments. Factors other than organic carbon content may be important in affecting neutral organic compound bioavailability.