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Impact of polychlorinated biphenyl and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sequestration in sediment on bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs
Author(s) -
Moermond Caroline T.A.,
Roessink Ivo,
Jonker Michiel T.O.,
Meijer Thijs,
Koelmans Albert A.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1897/06-288r.1
Subject(s) - macrophyte , environmental chemistry , fluoranthene , bioaccumulation , polychlorinated biphenyl , biota , trophic level , sediment , chemistry , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , food chain , aquatic ecosystem , ecology , biology , phenanthrene , paleontology
Abstract It is not clear whether sequestration or aging of organic chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) limits accumulation in higher levels of aquatic food chains. Therefore, the effect of aging on accumulation was studied in 1‐m 3 model ecosystems that mimicked fish‐dominated, macrophyte‐dominated, and fish‐ and macrophyte‐dominated shallow lakes. Also treatments without fish and macrophytes were included. General characteristics, biomasses, total (Soxhlet‐extractable), and labile (6‐h Tenax‐extractable) PCB and PAH concentrations in sediment and biota were monitored over time. Accumulation data for PCB 28, PCB 149, and fluoranthene (native to the sediment taken from the field) were compared to those for spiked analogues PCB 29, PCB 155, and fluoranthene‐ d 10 . Labile fractions for spiked compounds were higher than for their native analogues and decreased over time, suggesting sequestration in the sediment. In the majority of cases, 6‐h Tenaxextractable concentrations correlated better with concentrations in biota than Soxhlet‐extractable concentrations. Ecosystem structure affected food web accumulation, but replicate variability was too high to detect clear treatment effects. Differences in accumulation between spiked compounds and their native analogues indicated an effect of aging for invertebrates, macrophytes, and benthivorous fish. Thus, aging may translate directly into reduced uptake at higher trophic levels.