Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/es702802p
Title (Primary) Sediment toxicity of a rapidly biodegrading nonionic surfactant: comparing the equilibrium partitioning approach with measurements in pore water
Author Droge, S.T.J.; Postma, J.F.; Hermens, J.L.M.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2008
Department AUC
Volume 42
Issue 11
Page From 4215
Page To 4221
Language englisch
Abstract The equilibrium partitioning theory (EqP) assumes that the toxicity of nonionic surfactants in sediment can be predicted from water-only toxicity data as long as the effect concentrations are properly normalized for chemical activity. Therefore, in marine sediment toxicity tests with the model alcohol ethoxylate (AE), C12EO8, freely dissolved concentrations were both measured via solid-phase microextraction and predicted using sorption coefficients. In fully equilibrated test systems (including the overlying water), both methods showed that concentrations in the pore water of the spiked sediment layer causing 50% mortality (LC50) to the amphipod Corophium volutator were in the same range as LC50 values for amphipods exposed to AE in seawater only. In the sediment systems, AE concentrations in the pore water remained constant up to 15 days, while concentrations in the water overlying the sediment decreased to less than 1% of initial concentrations within 6 days due to biodegradation. In such disequilibrated test systems, C. volutator survived pore water dissolved concentrations that were above the LC50. Apparently, this burrowing amphipod is able to exploit the low chemical activity in the overlying water as a refuge from sediment exposure.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=895
Droge, S.T.J., Postma, J.F., Hermens, J.L.M. (2008):
Sediment toxicity of a rapidly biodegrading nonionic surfactant: comparing the equilibrium partitioning approach with measurements in pore water
Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (11), 4215 - 4221 10.1021/es702802p