BIOCONCENTRATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-COMPOUNDS FROM SEDIMENTS TO MUSCLE OF FINFISH

The uptake of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) from contaminated se diments into the muscle of finfish is described and modeled. Winter fl ounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) were exposed to various concent rations of Hibernia crude oil in sediments during 4 months in the wint er. Concentrations of parental and specific alkylated PAC, including p olycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and a polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycle (PASH, represented by dibenzothiophene, DBT) were determi ned in sediments and muscle. Commercially available specific alkylated naphthalenes, phenanthrenes, and anthracenes with known aqueous solub ilities were quantified. PAH concentrations in sediments ranged from t hose expected in pristine areas to levels 25-50 times higher. Biota-se diment accumulation factors (BSAF) were deduced, showing that the more water-soluble PAH displayed higher BSAFs. A simple fugacity model des cribing the equilibrium and kinetics of uptake of chemicals from sedim ent suggests that the more soluble PAH are approaching equilibrium. Ho wever, the less soluble higher molecular weight PAH require a much lon ger time to reach steady state because of their low concentration in w ater.