Patterns of distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the system water–hydrobionts system of the lake Baikal

Abstract

The results of model experiments designed to study the distribution patterns for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of various structures and solubility (naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, benz(a)pyrene) in the water system of the Lake Baikal (endemic species: freshwater sponge Lubomirskia baicalensis and haric algae Nitella sp.) are presented. The ability of hydrobionts to remove PAHs from aqueous solutions at the highest rate for the first 2-6 hours and with an efficiency of up to 70-95% of the initial content, depending on the mass and type of organism, exposure time, hydrophobicity (solubility) of the compound was revealed. The ability of hydrobionts to accumulate and convert PAHs was, which indicates the active participation of aquatic organisms in the processes of water self-purification from toxic and carcinogenic compounds. The ability to use hydrobionts as bioindicators for assessing the state of the aquatic environment of Lake Baikal was also demonstrated.