PARTITIONING OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL CONGENERS IN THE SEAWATER OFNEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS

The partitioning of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) between particula te and dissolved phases of seawater was examined along a concentration gradient in New Bedford Harbor, MA. Regression analysis was used to e xamine the relationship between the log of the partition coefficients (K(p)) and the log of the octanol/water partition coefficients (K(ow)) for six PCB congeners at four stations. A seasonal trend (i.e., summe r-winter) in partitioning was observed. Log K(p) was inversely correla ted with temperature and to a lesser extent with total suspended solid s (TSS) at each station. Multiple regression analysis indicated that a pproximately 70% of the variability in log K(p) along the PCB concentr ation gradient was accounted for by temperature, log K(ow), and TSS. T emperature and log K(ow) were equally important in defining changes in log K(p), with TSS contributing the least predictive ability.