Ecotoxicological Effects of Activated Carbon Amendments on Macroinvertebrates in Nonpolluted and Polluted Sediments

Abstract

Amendment of contaminated sediment with activated carbon (AC) is a remediation technique that has demonstrated its ability to reduce aqueous concentrations of hydrophobic organic compounds. The application of AC, however, requires information on possible ecological effects, especially effects on benthic species. Here, we provide data on the effects of AC addition on locomotion, ventilation, sediment avoidance, mortality, and growth of two benthic species, Gammarus pulex and Asellus aquaticus , in clean versus polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated sediment. Exposure to PAH was quantified using 76 μm polyoxymethylene passive samplers. In clean sediment, AC amendment caused no behavioral effects on both species after 3-5 days exposure, no effect on the survival of A. aquaticus , moderate effect on the survival of G. pulex (LC(50) = 3.1% AC), and no effects on growth. In contrast, no survivors were detected in PAH contaminated sediment without AC. Addition of 1% AC, however, resulted in a substantial reduction of water exposure concentration and increased survival of G. pulex and A. aquaticus by 30 and 100% in 8 days and 5 and 50% after 28 days exposure, respectively. We conclude that AC addition leads to substantial improvement of habitat quality in contaminated sediments and outweighs ecological side effects.

Effects of two sorbents applied to mercury-contaminated river sediments on bioaccumulation in and detrital processing by Hyalella azteca

“…This analysis revealed an effect of Sedimite ® amendment on detrital processing that seemed dependent on contaminant levels. Bundschuh et al (2011a) found a beneficial effect if applied to heavily contaminated sediment (i.e., Hg concentration of approximately 30 mg kg −1 ); we also noted a reduction in detrital processing by H. azteca in uncontaminated sediment or sediment exhibiting only low levels of Hg (cf Kupryianchyk et al 2011;Janssen and Beckingham 2013). The reduced processing of the leaf material likely results from the partial or, in some instances, complete coverage of leaf discs with fine Sedimite ® particles that were resuspended during the bioturbative activity of Hyalella (Fig.…”

“…The in situ application of sorbents such as activated carbon is one promising option because of its demonstrated capacity to reduce bioavailability of sediment-bound pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Kupryianchyk et al 2011). The promise of such an approach in combination with its potential for large-scale application led to studies of possible unintended adverse consequences of activated carbon amendment (e.g., Janssen and Beckingham 2013).…”

Bioturbation effects on heavy metals fluxes from sediment treated with activated carbon

“…Addition of 1 % AC, which can reduce water exposure concentration of organisms, was observed to increase the survival of Gammarus pulex and by 30 % in 8 days and 5 % after 28 days exposure, increase that of A. aquaticus by 100 % in 8 days and 50 % after 28 days exposure, respectively (Kupryianchyk et al 2011). Janssen and Beckingham reviewed that AC amendments can reduce bioavailability of sediment-associated HOCs by more than 60-90 % (Janssen and Beckingham 2013).…”

Extraction of sediment‐associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with granular activated carbon

“…Over the last decade, in situ addition of activated carbon (AC) to polluted sediments has been proposed as an effective remediation strategy to reduce risks of sediment-bound HOCs and to improve the ecological quality of surface waters [1,2]. Sediment remediation with AC has been shown to result in reduced freely dissolved HOC concentrations in sediment porewater in laboratory and field settings [3][4][5][6][7] and in reduced bioaccumulation and toxicity of HOCs in benthic invertebrates [5,6,8].…”

“…Sorption of native PAHs to the best performing GAC was studied for mixtures at different GACsediment weight ratios and sediment only. For all these experiments, aqueous-phase PAH concentrations were accurately determined using 76-mm polyoxymethylene (POM) passive samplers [8,25,26]. The sorption to GAC in the sediment-GAC mixtures was assessed by subtracting the contribution of PAH sorption to sediment from total PAH sorption in the mixture.…”