Dissolved organic matter enhances transport of PAHs to aquatic organisms.

Abstract

In this study, the uptake of pyrene and benzo[b]fluoranthene by an aquatic worm (Lumbriculus variegatus) and a poly(dimethylsiloxane) coated glass fiber was studied at different humic acid concentrations. The accumulation of pyrene was not affected by the presence of the humic matrix. However, the accumulation rate of benzo[b]fluoranthene increased a factor of 3 for the fiber and a factor of 4 when 55 mg L(-1) dissolved organic carbon was added in the form of humic acid. The difference between the two chemicals can be explained by the higher affinity of benzo[b]fluoranthene for the dissolved humic material. A comparison of modeled transport enhancement of benzo[b]fluoranthene by humic acid and the experimental results suggested that the benzo[b]fluoranthene complexed with the humic phase was not completely labile.