Fates and Biological Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aquatic Systems

摘要

This research project was conducted to test the hypothesis that fates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in ecosystems can be predicted by mechanistic simulation models based on easily measured properties of the compounds in this homologous series. To accomplish this goal our research efforts were in four major areas: (1) development of a mechanistic, predictive simulation model based on kinetic rather than thermodynamic considerations; (2) development of analytical and quality assurance protocols for the extraction and quantification of PAH associated with biological and geological matrices; (3) laboratory studies to determine the vectors of and rate constants for uptake, depuration and biotransformation of PAH by aquatic organisms and sediments; (These studies also examined the effect of PAH concentration, temperature and other exogenous factors on rate constants and determined whether rate constants were first order.) and (4) a microcosm study to compare the results of simulation and laboratory scale studies to a larger scale ecosystem study.