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Passive-Sampler-Based Bioavailability Assessment of PCB Congeners Associated With Aroclor-containing Paint Chips in the Presence of Sediment
Summary
Researchers used polyethylene passive samplers to measure the bioavailability of PCBs leaching from paint chips mixed into freshwater sediment. They found that PCBs from paint chips were less bioavailable than freely dissolved sediment PCBs, suggesting the paint matrix limits their release into porewater and reduces uptake by organisms.
Abstract This is the first investigation of the bioavailability of PCBs associated with paint chips (PC) dispersed in sediment. Bioavailability of PCB-containing PC in sediment was measured using ex situ polyethylene passive samplers (PS) and compared to that of PCBs from field-collected sediments. PC were mixed in freshwater sediment from a site with no known PCB contamination sources and from a contaminated site with non-paint PCB sources. Particles <0.045 mm generated concentrations in the PS over one order of magnitude higher than coarser particles. The bioavailable fraction was represented by the polymer-sediment accumulation factor (PSAF), defined as the ratio of the PCB concentrations in the PS and organic carbon normalized sediment. The PSAF was similar for both field sediments and was ~50-60 and ~ 5 times higher than for the 0.25-0.3 mm and <0.045 mm fractions, respectively, of PC mixed in sediment. These results indicate much lower bioavailability for PCBs associated with PC compared to PCBs associated with field-collected sediment. Such information is essential for risk assessment and remediation decision making for sites where contamination from non-paint PCBs sources are co-located with PCB PC.