Tidal influence on the distribution of hydrophobic organic contaminants in the Seine Estuary and biomarker responses on the copepod Eurytemora affinis.

To elucidate tidally related variations of hydrophobic organic contaminant (HOC) bioavailability and the impact of these contaminants on estuarine ecosystems, both PCB and PAH concentrations were investigated in the dissolved phase and in the suspended particulate material (SPM) of the Seine Estuary. Both PAH and PCB highest levels were observed in surface and bottom water when SPM remobilizations were maximum, in relation to higher speed currents. In parallel, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were investigated in the copepod Eurytemora affinis. Significant decreasing AChE levels were measured during the tidal cycle and between surface and bottom copepods related to salinity and to HOC concentration variations. Significant increasing GST levels were also observed when HOC concentrations in the water column were the highest. This study underlined the need to standardize sampling procedures for biomonitoring studies in order to avoid interfering factors that could modify biomarker responses to chemical exposure.

Seasonal variations of hydrophobic organic contaminant concentrations in the water-column of the Seine Estuary and their transfer to a planktonic species Eurytemora affinis (Calanoïda, copepoda). Part 1: PCBs and PAHs.

Hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOC) (i.e. PAHs and PCBs) were measured in the water column and in Eurytemora affinis samples from the Seine Estuary collected from November 2002 to February 2005. Results showed seasonal variations of both total PCB and PAH levels in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) and in the copepods with maximum levels during winter times. PAH and PCB concentrations in the SPM ranged from 499 to 5819ngg(-1) and from 58 to 463ngg(-1), respectively. Phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[b+j+k]fluoranthene (B[b+j+k]F) were the predominant PAH compounds in the water column, while CB 101, 118, 153 and 138 were the most abundant PCB congeners. PCBs and PAHs bioaccumulated by E. affinis (EA) varied between 383 and 1785ngg(-1) and 165-3866ngg(-1). CB101, 153, 138 and B[b+j+k] were, respectively, the major compounds of PCB and PAH fingerprints in EA. Thereby, the copepods could reach high accumulation factor (ACF) (91000 for PCBs and 17000 for PAHs). The principal component analyses of contaminant concentrations and environmental parameter datasets distinguished two groups of copepods. The winter time cluster, with high percentage of adult copepods, which bioaccumulated the highest PCB and PAH body-burdens, and the second cluster with juveniles showing the lowest HOC concentrations. Thus, PAH and PCB concentrations in EA exhibited significant correlations with the percentage of adults making up the samples.

Multi-residue analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorobiphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in marine sediments.

A multi-residue analysis procedure using microwave-assisted extraction and pre-purification has been developed for the combined analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorobiphenyls (PCB), and organochlorine pesticides (OCP) in marine sediments. This procedure has been validated with certified marine sediment. Several surrogate standards have been employed and the use of octachloronaphthalene (OCN) as a surrogate standard for organochlorine determination in this matrix is discussed. The recoveries of all compounds were high (>70%) and the relative standard deviations are of the same order as the certified values. Different analytical problems are discussed, including DDT degradation in gas chromatography and laboratory PCB background levels. Quantification problems encountered for two pesticides (cis-chlordane and trans-nonachlor) were attributed to PAH interference in the GC-ECD chromatogram.

Combined protocol for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBx) from sediments using focussed microwave assisted (FMW) extraction at atmospheric pressure.

A microwave-assisted protocol has been developed using focussed microwaves at atmospheric pressure for the extraction of PAHs and PCBs from sediments. It combines extraction and purification assisted by microwaves. This protocol has been applied to the quantification of 12 individual PAHs, 8 individual PCBs and 8 PCB coeluted mixtures from two Standard Reference Materials and one natural sediment. The results for both classes of compounds (PAHs and PCBs) are good in terms of recoveries, which are always greater than 70% and in most cases around 100%. The reproducibility is also good with coefficients of variation below 10% in most cases. This protocol has the great advantage of saving time, the time dedicated to the preparation / extraction assisted by microwaves being reduced to less than half an hour.