Bioavailability of HOC depending on the colloidal state of humic substances: a case study with PCB-77 and Daphnia magna

Condensed organic matter with higher affinity for hydrophobic organic compounds (HOC) is currently held responsible for slow desorption and concomitant lower bioavailabilities of HOC in sediments and soils. In an experiment with Daphnia magna and IHSS Peat Humic Acid (PHA), we showed that the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-77) was directly related to the charge of the humic colloid, as predicted by the metal-humic binding model WHAM. Consistent with the type of binding to the humic acid (counter-ion accumulation vs. specific binding), increasing the concentration of Na+ and Ca2+ ions generated opposite effects on colloid charge and HOC binding by the humic acid. Condensation as a colloidal phenomenon in solution as well as on surfaces needs to be addressed as a contributor to lower bioavailabilities and, possibly, to slower desorption kinetics.     

Comparative evaluation of four suspended particulate matter (SPM) sampling devices and their use for monitoring SPM quality

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Representative sampling of suspended particulate matter is fundamental for assessing river sediment quality, including the distribution and...     

Ermittlung von Desorptionskinetiken hydrophober organischer Schadstoffe aus Sedimenten mittels Passivsammlern*

Passivsammler k?nnen als mildes Extraktionsverfahren zur Absch?tzung der biologischen Zug?nglichkeit von Schadstoffen eingesetzt werden. In den Versuchen wurde die Einsatzm?glichkeit eines kostengünstigen Siliconelastomers als Passivsammler zur Abbildung von Desorptionskinetiken aus natürlichem, mit hydrophoben organischen Schadstoffen (HOC) versetztem Mittelgebirgsflusssediment erprobt.     

Kohäsive Feinpartikel in fluvialen Systemen: einige Gedanken zu Erkenntnissen und Forschungsdefiziten

Fluvial cohesive sediment is of fundamental environmental and multidisciplinary concern owing to its significant impact on energy, nutrient and trace element fluxes, river sediment budgets as well as habitat quality. Consequently, numerous studies in geomorphology, hydraulics, hydrology and river ecology accentuate the importance of fluvial fine grained sediment. Increased deposition of fine grained particles for instance can negatively effect benthic habitats. Settling velocity and deposition rates of fines are key terms in sediment transport models. Thus, the knowledge of transport and quantitative deposition dynamics are necessary prerequisites for a sustainable sediment and habitat management as well as a reliable, physically based modelling of fine sediment conveyance and contaminant transfer in streams. However, it is generally a challenging task to characterise and trace fine-grained particle transport, deposition and resuspension dynamics in a fluvial environment. One inherent complexity of fluvial cohesive sediment dynamics is for instance the relevance of interparticle forces and flocculation/aggregation processes. Owing to this complexity and the lack of standardized methods cohesive particle transport mechanisms are hardly predictable in a specific field situation. Consequently, interdisciplinary research approaches are needed. This article discusses specific findings and research gaps in the field of cohesive sediment research.