Search

To simulate the bioaccumulation of neutral organic contaminants by infaunal benthos, the partitioning of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) between a contaminated estuarine sediment and admixed C-18-coated silica particles was measured. The concentrations of lower chlorinated PCB congeners (less than five chlorine atoms per molecule) on the C-18-coated silica particles reached apparent steady state within 300 h while congeners with greater numbers of chlorine atoms required much greater time periods (greater than 1 year) to reach apparent steady state. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons showed less partitioning from sediment to the C-18 particles than PCB congeners, although the log K{sub ow} ranges of the compounds in these comparisons were similar. The biota sediment accumulation factors, defined as the lipid-normalized contaminant concentration in an exposed organisms divided by the organic carbon-normalized contaminant concentration of the sediment, were calculated for these exposures using the C-18 of the particles as the lipid. The results from these exposures agreed closely with those measured in studies where living benthic organisms were exposed to contaminated sediment.

The utility and limits of applicability of a simple equilibrium partitioning model for predicting the maximum concentration of neutral organic compounds which can be accumulated by infaunal organisms exposed to a contaminated sediment were examined. Accumulation factors (AFs) for PCBs, the lipid normalized PCB concentration in organisms divided by the organic carbon normalized PCB concentration in sediments, were measured for PCBs in infaunal mollusks and polychaetes at field sites with a range of sediment Aroclor (A-1254) and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations. The average AFs for A-1254 were found to be higher (x = 4.94; range 3.76–7.27) at sites with lower contaminant concentrations (15.0–48.3 ng A-1254/g dry sediment) than at more contaminated sites (328–9,200 ng/g), where AFs were lower (x = 2.62; range 1.14–5.04). AF data grouped on the basis of sediment A-1254 and TOC concentration differed statistically between, but not within each group. Significant differences in mean AFs were found between some species and between some PCB congeners. When all data were considered, the variability associated with AFs was lower than that found for bioaccumulation factors on a wet weight basis, indicating the utility of lipid and organic carbon normalization.

Total Hg concentrations and values of stable isotopes (delta(15)N, delta(13)C) in tissues of mink (Mustela vison) captured in Rhode Island (USA) during winters of 1999 to 2004 were statistically distinct based on location. Mink captured in salt marsh environments (salt marsh group mink [SMGM]) had significantly lower mean Hg concentrations in liver and muscle tissue, and significantly higher delta(15)N and delta(13)C values in muscle, than those in corresponding samples of mink from upland freshwater locations (upland group mink [UPGM]). Stomach content samples obtained from the mink carcasses showed that fish, frogs, and crayfish were the dominant food items in UPGM, but in SMGM, fish predominated. Significant correlations were found for total Hg concentrations and stable isotope values between stomach contents and tissues. Comparisons of increases in Hg concentrations and delta(15)N values from stomach contents to muscle tissue showed nonsignificant differences between UPGM and SMGM for Hg concentrations (SMGM, factor of 4.2; UPGM, factor of 3.9) and delta(15)N values (SMGM, difference of 3.9 per thousand; UPGM, difference of 3.1 per thousand). These results suggest that the length of the trophic step and the extent of accumulation of Hg were approximately equal in both mink groups despite the differences in dietary composition and possible differences in accumulation of organic and inorganic Hg. The correspondence of stable isotope values and Hg concentrations between mink tissues and their stomach contents indicates that use of stomach content analysis to identify major prey items, followed by collection and analysis of appropriate field prey, may represent an approach for estimating Hg exposure to mink.

The U.S. National Mussel Watch Program initially used split-sample analyses for interlaboratory quality control purposes. These indicated the possibility of interlaboratory analytical discrepancies as well as problems in the split-sample technique itself. For the third year of the program, two mussel homogenates were produced to serve as intercomparison samples — one for metals and organics, the other for radionuclides. The results obtained using these homogenates are encouraging in that generally good agreement is seen among analyses done by several labs in diverse pollutant classes. We conclude from this experience that a quality-control program relying on the analysis of large homogeneous samples of the matrix being dealt with is an essential part of any extensive, multilaboratory analytical program.