INRAM
The use of integrated passive samplers as a source of
contaminant mixtures in ecotoxicological laboratory experiments
Introduction
Claessens Michiel1, Monteyne Els2, Roose Patrick2 & Janssen R. Colin1
In conventional laboratory ecotoxicity studies, test organisms are exposed to various (high) concentrations of a single
test compound. This clearly does not reflect in situ conditions: i.e. exposure to low levels of a complex mixture of
micropollutants. In order to expose organisms to environmentally realistic contaminant mixtures, this study explores a
novel use of integrative passive samplers. When used in contaminated seawater, these devices absorb the pollutants
by diffusion; when subsequently transferred to uncontaminated water, the pollutants are released. Experiments were
conducted to examine the use of passive samplers as a source of pollutant mixtures in laboratory ecotoxicity assays. As
these passive samplers also allow to determine the aqueous concentrations of otherwise (nearly) undetectable trace
compounds, they promise to be a powerful new tool in environmental risk/impact assessment.
Methodology
Laboratory studies
Field work
Larval development tests with
oyster
larvae exposed
to
mixtures desorbed from passive
samplers.
Experiments with spiked passive
samplers to study the equilibrium
dynamics
Fluorene
Log(Kow) = 4.18
Deployment of passive samplers in the harbours of
Oostende, Nieuwpoort and Zeebrugge, and in the
North Sea.
Zeebrugge Harbour
Benzo(a)pyrene
Log(Kow) = 5.66
ZB04
ZB03
ZB01
Comparison of the trend in aqueous concentrations of fluorene and benzo(a)pyrene between
conventionally prepared solutions and solutions prepared with passive samplers.
: conventionally spiked solutions,
ZB02
: solutions prepared with passive samplers
Results
Steady concentrations achieved after initial decrease
- higher than with conventional spiking
- below expected concentrations
Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations stay above detection
limits only in the medium with passive samplers
Promising results, but more research on equilibrium
dynamics needed to improve contaminant release
during toxicity tests
Severe effects of contaminant mixtures collected in all
coastal harbours (at environmentally realistic levels)
Clear differences in normal larval development were
observed between and within harbours
First results from the chemical analysis show toxicity
might be related to PAH pollution. No clear relation
with organotin concentrations was found.
Oostende Harbour
OO04
OO03
OO01
12
OO02
TBT Tributyltin
DBT Dibutyltin
MBT Monobutyltin
Concentration in ng/L
10
Nieuwpoort Harbour
8
6
4
2
0
01
:
:
NP03
Concentratie in ng/l
350
sampling station
cage with passive samplers deployed
Percentage of normally developed larvae
Percentage of abnormally developed larvae
NP01
Percentage of dead larvae
NP02
NP03
OO01
OO02
OO03
OO04
ZB01
ZB02
ZB03
ZB04
03
300
250
02
01
200
150
02
100
50
NP02
NP01
Organotin concentrations in the watercolumn of the three
harbours (NP: Nieuwpoort, OO: Oostende, ZB: Zeebrugge).
400
0
01
03
02
NP
OO
04
ZB
PAH concentrations (sum of 22 PAHs) in the
watercolumn of the three harbours (NP:
Nieuwpoort, OO: Oostende, ZB: Zeebrugge).
Partners
1Laboratory for Environmental
Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology
Ghent University, Belgium
2Management
Unit of the North
Sea Mathematical Model
Belgium
For more information: http://www.vliz.be/projects/inram
Marine Biology Section
Ghent University
Belgium
Laboratory for Chemical Analysis
Ghent University
Belgium
Flanders Marine Institute
Belgium
Funded by Belgian Federal
Science Policy
Contact: michiel.claessens@ugent.be