SIGNIFICANCE OF BACTERIA IN MARINE WATERS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROPHOBIC ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Pelagic bacteria represent the potentially most predominant biological , particulate sorptive surface for hydrophobic organic contaminant (HO C) and constitute a food source for the microheterotrophic food web, w hich conceivably continues up to pelagic fish. However, no data have b een reported on HOCs in bacteria. Therefore, this fraction (0.2-2 mu m ) was isolated with a new technique in situ in the Baltic Sea followed by HOC analysis (HRGC-MS). Results show bacterial concentrations (PAH s and PCBs) in the same order as or higher than the larger particulate fraction (2-90 mu m), which clearly illustrates the significance of h eterotrophes for the distribution and dynamics of HOCs in marine water s.