A MICROCOSM EXPERIMENT TO ASSESS THE OUTGASSING POTENTIAL OF PCBS FROM SEDIMENT-WATER SYSTEMS

A laboratory microcosm study was performed to assess the outgassing po tential of PCBs from sediment-water systems. PCBs collected in the hea dspace of the sampler units were adsorbed onto polyurethane foam plugs , which were intermittently sampled over a total period of 56 days. Th e sediment composition, the: level of PCB contamination in the sedimen t, and incubation temperature were all found to influence the rare of outgassing. Total outgassing losses over the 56 days ranged between 0. 04 and 2.5% of the initial sediment PCB burdens. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.