Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/es900734k
Title (Primary) Unlike PAHs from Exxon Valdez Crude Oil, PAHs from Gulf of Alaska Coals are not readily bioavailable
Author Deepthike, H.U.; Tecon, R.; van Kooten, G.; van der Meer, J.R.; Harms, H.; Wells, M.; Short, J.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2009
Department UMB
Volume 43
Issue 15
Page From 5864
Page To 5870
Language englisch
Abstract In the wake of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, spatially and temporally spill-correlated biological effects consistent with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure were observed. Some works have proposed that confounding sources from local source rocks, prominently coals, are the provenance of the PAHs. Representative coal deposits along the southeast Alaskan coast (Kulthieth Formation) were sampled and fully characterized chemically and geologically. The coals have variable but high total organic carbon content, technically classifying as coals and coaly shale, and highly varying PAH contents. Even for coals with high PAH content (4000 ppm total PAHs), a PAH-sensitive bacterial biosensor demonstrates nondetectable bioavailability as quantified, based on naphthalene as a test calibrant. These results are consistent with studies indicating that materials such as coals strongly diminish the bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds and support previous work suggesting that hydrocarbons associated with the regional background in northern Gulf of Alaska marine sediments are not appreciably bioavailable.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=127
Deepthike, H.U., Tecon, R., van Kooten, G., van der Meer, J.R., Harms, H., Wells, M., Short, J. (2009):
Unlike PAHs from Exxon Valdez Crude Oil, PAHs from Gulf of Alaska Coals are not readily bioavailable
Environ. Sci. Technol. 43 (15), 5864 - 5870 10.1021/es900734k