The Use of Semipermeable Membrane Devices to Concentrate Chemicals in Oil Refinery Effluent on the Mackenzie River

Abstract

ABSTRACT. To concentrate natural and refinery-derived inducers of mixed function oxygenase (MFO), semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were deployed for 11 -12 days in Norman Wells refinery effluent and upstream and downstream on the Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories, Canada. SPMDs, which are layflat polyethylene membrane tubes containing a thin film of purified triolein, absorb freely dissolved neutral organic chemicals that diffuse through the polyethylene membrane. Fish liver cells (Poeciliopsis lucida hepatoma; PLHC-1) were dosed with SPMD extracts; then MFO activity was determined. SPMDs from the effluent contained potent MFO inducers, equivalent to 4830 -8700 pg 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)/g SPMD. SPMDs from the site 0.5 km downstream of the refinery outfall also induced MFO, but downstream extracts were about 1/40 as potent as those from effluent-exposed SPMDs. Comparing sites on the Mackenzie River, extracts of SPMDs from downstream of the refinery outfall were over 20 times as potent as those from upstream SPMDs. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and C1-to C3-substituted PAHs were abundant in extracts of SPMDs from the effluent and, to a lesser degree, in extracts of SPMDs from 0.5 km downstream. In effluent-exposed and downstream SPMDs, concentrations of parent PAHs were lower than those of C1-substituted PAHs. The highest concentrations were those of C2-and C3-substituted PAHs. It is unknown which compounds in the SPMDs caused the MFO induction, but there was a very strong correlation between the concentration of total C3-phenanthrene/anthracene in the SPMD extracts and MFO-induction potency. The study shows both the use of SPMDs as concentrators of neutral organic compounds in harsh environments (such as high temperature effluents and fast-flowing rivers) and the utility and sensitivity of the fish liver cell line for ranking MFO-inducing potencies of environmental SPMD extracts.

Accumulation of ligands for aryl hydrocarbon and sex steroid receptors in fish exposed to treated effluent from a bleached sulfite/groundwood pulp and paper mill

“…After deployment, SPMDs were gently wiped to remove surface material, sealed in metal cans, and frozen at −20°C until dialysis. Details of dialysis procedures are described in Parrott et al [19]. Residual triolein was removed from dialyzed extracts using preparative HPLC equipped with the gel permeation column described previously that had been calibrated with triolein.…”

Exploiting lipid-free tubing passive samplers and embryonic zebrafish to link site specific contaminant mixtures to biological responses

“…Parrott et al (1999) and Parrot and Tillitt (1997) investigated EROD (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) induction in fish liver cell lines upon exposure to SPMD extracts. Petty et al (2004) have reported endocrine effects with the VGT (vitellogenin) and the yeast estrogen screen (YES) assays using PSD extracts.…”

“…This study does not seek to present additional chemical data but rather to demonstrate the potential advantage of utilizing a complementary bioassay tool in combination with a fit-for-purpose sampling methodology for environmental and risk assessment. A limited number of publications address the possibility of using environmental samples obtained from PSDs in toxicity bioassays (Parrott and Tillitt, 1997; Parrott et al, 1999; Sabaliunas et al, 2000; Heinis et al, 2004; Petty et al, 2004; Ma et al, 2005; Ke et al, 2007; Springman et al, 2008). However, the majority of these studies use in vitro assays or assess only a single biological effect.…”

Passivsammler für die zeitintegrierte chemische und toxikologische Überwachung des Schadstoffgehaltes in Grund- und Oberflächenwasser

“…Allerdings beschr/inken sich bisherige Versuche zur chemisch-toxikologischen Analyse passiv angereicherter Umweltschadstoffe auf L6semittel-extrakte aus SPMDs (Petty et al 2000b). So ermittelten Parrott et al (1999) (Sabaliunas et al 1999).…”