Bioavailability of a hydrocarbon from water and sediment to the marine worm Arenicola marina

The uptake, accumulation and depuration of a labelled hydrocarbon (¹⁴C-1-naphthalene) by the marine annelid Arenicola marina were studied. Naphthalene was chosen because it is an important component of oil and is known to be toxic to marine organisms. The bioavailability of the hydrocarbon to the worm from contaminated sediment is examined and the results discussed with reference to the rehabilitation of oiled environments, as A. marina is thought to be capable, in high numbers, of greatly reworking sediments.