Influence of Particle Surfaces on the Bioavailability to Different Species of 2,4-Dichlorophenol and Pentachlorophenol

Abstract

Studies on the bioavailability of contaminants that accumulate in sediments have been complicated by the chemical and structural variability of substrates and by the different biological properties of test organisms that are used by regulators. The purpose of this work was to overcome some of these difficulties by devising a test system that used artificial particles with known chemical surfaces. These were coated with 2,4-dichlorophenol or pentachlorophenol and fed to oligochete worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) and midge larvae (Chironimus riparius). The adsorption coefficient (K d ) of the particle surface was compared with the concentration of contaminant accumulated by the test organisms. There were major differences in bioaccumulation between the two species used despite identical particles and pollutants. This clearly reflects differences in the uptake and detoxification pathways between species. The particle surface and its interaction with the chlorophenols was a major factor in the accumulation of the contaminants in an organism. The techniques that are described provide a way of standardizing results between different natural sediments and different test organisms and provide some insights into the processes involved in bioaccumulation from particle surfaces.

Phytoremediation of pentachlorophenol-contaminated sediments by aquatic macrophytes

“…However, the previous phytoremediation studies mostly focused on the use of terrestrial plants and remediation of heavy metals (Casterline et al 1985;Takashi et al 2004;Steven and James 1999;Tessa et al 2006). Sediments in aquatic environment are regarded as ultimate sink of organic contaminants (Davies et al 1999;Š krbic and Ðurišic-Mladenovic 2007), but little information is available on the possibility of use of aquatic macrophytes for remediation of organic toxicants in aquatic environment. It is, therefore, necessary to develop phytoremediation method of PCP by using aquatic macrophytes.…”

Influence of organic amendments on the sorption of pentachlorophenol on soils

“…Soil is regarded as the ultimate sink for large number of organic contaminants in terrestrial (Davies et al, 1999;Skrbic and Durisic-Mladenovic, 2007). Various forms of natural organic matter (NOM) associated with soils serve as dominant "compartments" for sorption and sequestration of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs).…”

Immobilization of pentachlorophenol in soil using carbonaceous material amendments

“…Soil and sediment are regarded as ultimate sink of large number of organic contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem (Davies et al, 1999;Skrbic and Durisic-Mladenovic, 2007). Soil remediation technologies emphasize the transformation and detoxification of contaminants.…”