Assessing the Bioavailability of Complex Petroleum Hydrocarbon Mixtures in Sediments

Abstract

Several experimental methods have been developed to assess the bioavailability of individual organic compounds. So far none of them has however been applied to complex mixtures, such as oil (petroleum hydrocarbons), which is an ubiquitous pollutant. In the present study, we tested the potential of five of these experimental methods and that of a model approach to predict bioaccumulation of oil in the aquatic worm Lumbriculus variegatus exposed to 14 field-contaminated sediments. Actual and predicted bioaccumulation were compared in terms of both total bioaccumulative petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations and the relative distribution pattern of separate boiling point fractions (hydrocarbon blocks). None of the experimental methods was able to directly assess bioaccumulation in L. variegatus and correction factors were needed to match predicted and actual concentrations. These factors appeared concentration-dependent for solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and extractions with Tenax and cyclodextrin, most probably due to artifacts. Moreover, the hydrocarbon block pattern produced by these methods considerably differed from the pattern observed for worms; an additional reason for disqualification also applying to headspace-SPME. In contrast, the pattern produced by polyoxymethylene solid phase extraction (POM-SPE) closely mimicked the worm pattern and a sediment, hydrocarbon block, and concentration-independent correction factor (17) could be derived, based on which actual bioaccumulation could be predicted within a factor of 3. Finally, the model predicted bioaccumulation directly within a factor of 2. The accompanying hydrocarbon block pattern however deviated significantly more from the worm pattern than the POM-SPE pattern did. We therefore conclude that POM-SPE may be the overall best approach for predicting bioaccumulation of complex hydrocarbon mixtures in aquatic worms, all the more since an experimental approach will implicitly capture all factors determining bioavailability, which may prove difficult through a modeling approach.

Passive sampling methods for contaminated sediments: Scientific rationale supporting use of freely dissolved concentrations

“…As highlighted in the review by Lydy et al (this issue), the simple approach of measuring C free using PSMs and then estimating bioaccumulation has been applied successfully in an increasing number of studies, including those for complex petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs, chlorobenzenes, and PCBs (Kraaij et al ; Barthe et al ; Muijs and Jonker ; Jahnke et al ). The use of passive samplers as an analytical tool to predict bioaccumulation in laboratory studies may provide conservative estimates if uptake on the sampler is faster than the test organism and the test duration is not long enough to attain equilibrium in biota (Meloche et al ).…”

Methods to assess bioavailability of hydrophobic organic contaminants: Principles, operations, and limitations

“…It is therefore expected that POM also has an improved sensitivity for detecting polar compounds (Endo et al, 2011). The feasibility of POM in predicting bioavailability has been evaluated in a number of recent studies (Gomez-Eyles et al, 2012; Gschwend et al, 2011; Muijs and Jonker, 2011, 2012; Sormunen et al, 2008). For example, the bioconcentration of petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures in aquatic worms exposed to oil-contaminated sediments was well predicted using POM-based samplers under laboratory conditions (Muijs and Jonker, 2011).…”

“…The feasibility of POM in predicting bioavailability has been evaluated in a number of recent studies (Gomez-Eyles et al, 2012; Gschwend et al, 2011; Muijs and Jonker, 2011, 2012; Sormunen et al, 2008). For example, the bioconcentration of petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures in aquatic worms exposed to oil-contaminated sediments was well predicted using POM-based samplers under laboratory conditions (Muijs and Jonker, 2011). POM has good physical and chemical stability and is resistant to organic solvents under harsh extraction conditions (Jonker and Koelmans, 2001).…”

Mutagenicity, dioxin-like activity and bioaccumulation of alkylated picene and chrysene derivatives in a German lignite

“…The freshwater oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus was chosen for the present investigation because it is a widely accepted organism for studying PAH bioaccumulation (e. g. Harkey et al, 1995;Brunson et al, 1998;Landrum et al, 2002;Hyötyläinen and Oikari, 2004;Kukkonen et al, 2004;Lyytikäinen et al, 2007;Paumen et al, 2008;Mäenpää et al, 2009;Muijs and Jonker, 2011). The bioaccumulation potential of PAH from the lignite sample (ground coal particles) was investigated using the Lumbriculus bioaccumulation test in agreement with OECD guideline 315 (OECD, 2008).…”