Bioconcentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds from Sediments to Muscle of Finfish

Abstract

The uptake of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) from contaminated sediments into the muscle of finfish is described and modeled. Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) were exposed to various concentrations of Hibernia crude oil in sediments during 4 months in the winter. Concentrations of parental and specific alkylated PAC, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and a polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycle (PASH, represented by dibenzothiophene, DBT) were determined in sediments and muscle. Commercially available specific alkylated naphthalenes, phenanthrenes, and anthracenes with known aqueous solubilities were quantified. PAH concentrations in sediments ranged from those expected in pristine areas to levels 25-50 times higher. Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF) were deduced, showing that the more water-soluble PAH displayed higher BSAFs. A simple fugacity model describing the equilibrium and kinetics of uptake of chemicals from sediment suggests that the more soluble PAH are approaching equilibrium. However, the less soluble higher molecular weight PAH require a much longer time to reach steady state because of their low concentration in water.