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Evaluation of Physical-Chemical Methods for Rapid Assessment of the Bioavailability of Moderately Polar Compounds in Sediments
EPA Grant Number: R825513C026Subproject: this is subproject number 026 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R825513
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC
Center Director: D. Reible, Danny
Title: Evaluation of Physical-Chemical Methods for Rapid Assessment of the Bioavailability of Moderately Polar Compounds in Sediments
Investigators: Wiesner, Mark R.
Institution: Rice University
Current Institution: Rice University
EPA Project Officer: Manty, Dale
Project Period: January 1, 1998 through January 1, 2001
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001)
Research Category: Hazardous Substance Research Centers
Description:
Objective:The goal of the project is to study the transport of contaminants across synthetic membranes and immunoassay methods as a means for assessing the bioavailability of moderately polar contaminants in sediments. This effort is composed of three interrelated tasks: 1) The transport of xenobiotic compounds across synthetic membranes will be investigated under conditions of variable solution chemistry where the concentration, nature, and conformation of dissolved organic matter will be varied. 2) Concentrations of these compounds will be measured by scintillation counting and immunoassay to determine if a portion of the contaminants is functionally inaccessible to the antibodies. 3) Plant uptake studies will be run using identical conditions of solution chemistry applied in tasks 1 and 2 to determine the fraction of contaminant which is bioavailable to a hydroponically grown vegetative system.
The proposed effort will focus primarily on the use of synthetic membrane analogues for biological membranes as a basis for predicting bioavailability in sediment systems. Thus, one hypothesis to be tested is that synthetic membranes can be used to mimic the uptake selectivity expressed by biological membranes for specific compounds. A second hypothesis to be tested is that the antibodies used in immunoassays to bind trace organic compounds, exhibit specificity for "free" species of these compounds in a manner which can be correlated with the bioavailability of these contaminants.
Approach:Task 1: Transport of xenobiotic compounds across synthetic membranes.
This task will include examination of the contaminant/organic matter interactions
and their effect on transport through dialysis membranes. Experiments to be
conducted in task 1 will include the use of model solutions of macromolecular
organic compounds which will serve as surrogates for natural organic matter
in sediment pore waters. Contaminants will be mixed with the solution of organic
matter and solution chemistries will be adjusted. Transport of contaminant
through membranes, and contaminant retained will be measured as well as any
residual remaining on membranes or other surfaces. Similar experiments will
be conducted using concentrated solutions of fractionated natural organic matter.
Again, transport of contaminant across membranes will be monitored as well
as the remaining measures required to perform a rigorous mass balance on the
system. A novel experimental procedure will be used to facilitate the collection
of data required to obtain a mass balance on the system. The contaminated solution
sample will communicate via a semipermeable membrane with a solution made up
to mimic desired water column or pore water composition. A second membrane
will be in contact with this solution on one side, and with a small quantity
of lipid (triolein) on the other. At equilibrium, this system will allow the
determination of both the unavailable and available fractions of contaminant.
This work will also involve a detailed interpretation of results in the context
of the underlying physical chemistry of contaminant transport across the membranes
as a basis for selecting membranes with properties that might correlate well
with biouptake.
Task 2: Determination of the "immunoassay- available fraction" of contaminants. Immunoassay techniques allow for rapid determination of the relative presence of certain contaminants at even very low concentrations. Numerous investigators have observed excellent correlation between immunoassay-based measurements and those obtained by conventional methods such as GC/MS. However, while highly correlated, several researchers have produced data that suggest that in the absence of significant cross reactivity, the immunoassay methods may produce lower concentrations than those obtained from conventional methods. For example, Thurman and co-investigators found that atrazine concentrations in surface water measured using an immunoassay method were approximately 20% lower than those measured by GC/MS. Interferences associated with "bound" contaminant are typically minimized by standard sample preparation, and differences between the two techniques appear to be smaller when the samples are free of materials that might cause interferences or when similar extraction techniques are used to prepare samples.
The investigators will explore the possibility that this drawback in the immunoassay technique can be exploited in suitable cases based on the hypothesis that the same factors which inhibit transport of atrazine across synthetic membranes may also limit binding by antibodies. In an immunoassay measurement a sample, containing for example triazines (O), is added to a test well, followed by a triazine-enzyme conjugate (O-E). The triazine-enzyme conjugate competes with triazines for the same antibody binding site. After a brief incubation period any unbound molecules are washed away and clear solutions of substrate (S) and chromogen (C) are then added to each well. In the presence of bound triazine-enzyme conjugate, the substrate is converted to a compound which causes the chromogen to turn blue (B). One enzyme molecule can convert more than one substrate molecule. A stop solution is added after a prescribed period to each well to arrest the blue color development and turn the reaction solution yellow. A calibrated spectrophotometric measurement at 450 nanometers (nm) can then be done to obtain the triazine concentration. Contaminants bound up in a macromolecular "trap" may not be accessible from the standpoint of antibody binding. If this is the case, comparison of immunoassay-based measurements with a benchmark such as total extractable (or scintillation counting in a laboratory setting) might be used as an index of contaminant availability. Experiments performed in task 1 will be complemented with immunoassay measurements of radio-labeled contaminants benchmarked by scintillation counting.
Task 3: Plant uptake studies.
The fractions of contaminants which are able to pass through synthetic membranes
under the conditions applied in task 1 and those available to bind with a immunoassay-specific
antibody will be compared with the apparent fractions available for biouptake
by plants. Plants common to Regions 4 and 6, and typically found in wetlands
will be used in this study. Candidate plants include parrot feather, water
hyacinth, and alligator weed. These plants have been the subject of previous
bioaccumulation work undertaken within the HSRC/S&SW. Plants will be grown
hydroponically in modified Hoagland's nutrient solutions adjusted to produce
identical initial compositions to those used for tasks 1 and 2, only without
contaminants. Plants will be acclimated for approximately 3 days in a controlled
exposure chamber (photon flux and temperature) which will allow for mixing
using a magnetic stirrer. The uptake experiment will be initiated by injecting
contaminants into the hydroponic solution and mixing. Plants will be removed
periodically, weighed and 14C content determined using a biological oxidizer
that converts 14C-labeled plant tissue to 14CO2. Samples of the hydroponic
solution will also be monitored over time. The primary focus of the plant measurements
will be on the roots tissues, which are likely to equilibrate within 1 day.
The amount of bioavailable contaminant will then be calculated directly from
measurement and by mass balance.
The proposed use of membranes as a surrogate for the biological membrane is not new. Most notably, researchers have explored the use of semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) to predict the biouptake of organic compounds by fish. Their SPMDs essentially consist of a lipid phase sandwiched between membranes. Selectivity of transport is determined by the membrane and the lipophilic contaminant of interest is accumulated in the lipid phase and later analyzed. Although some correlation has been observed between chemical concentrations accumulated in their SPMDs and the bioavailable concentration back-calculated from concentrations in fish tissues, interpretation of their results is complicated by numerous factors including variability in the aqueous environment, possible metabolic transformations in fish, uptake of contaminants from multiple sources (food intake as well as transport across the gill membrane), and metabolic changes induced by stress. Moreover, for many other reasons stated in the previous section, the physical chemistry of interactions between membranes and contaminants are likely to be affected by solution chemistry and may be specific for a given contaminant/membrane combination.
Publications and Presentations:Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 3 publications for this subproject | View all 427 publications for this center
Journal Articles:Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 3 journal articles for this subproject | View all 114 journal articles for this center
Supplemental Keywords:immunoassays, synthetic membranes, chemical partitioning, environmental chemistry, environemental engineering, remediation, contaminated sediments, bioremediation, phytoremediation, plant uptake studies. , Water, Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Hazardous, Ecology and Ecosystems, Bioremediation, bioavailability, remediation, risk assessment, decontamination of soil, plant uptake studies, biodegradation, biotransformation, phytoremediation, risk management, soil and groundwater remediation, waste mixtures, contaminated sediment, anaerobic biotransformation, environmental technology, CERCLA, contaminants in soil, contaminated soils, hazardous waste management, contaminated soil, bioremediation of soils, hazardous waste treatment, sediment treatment, technology transfer, chemical contaminants
Progress and Final Reports:
Final Report
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R825513 HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R825513C001 Sediment Resuspension and Contaminant Transport in an Estuary.
R825513C002 Contaminant Transport Across Cohesive Sediment Interfaces.
R825513C003 Mobilization and Fate of Inorganic Contaminant due to Resuspension of Cohesive Sediment.
R825513C004 Source Identification, Transformation, and Transport Processes of N-, O- and S- Containing Organic Chemicals in Wetland and Upland Sediments.
R825513C005 Mobility and Transport of Radium from Sediment and Waste Pits.
R825513C006 Anaerobic Biodegradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene and Other Nitroaromatic Compounds by Clostridium Acetobutylicum.
R825513C007 Investigation on the Fate and Biotransformation of Hexachlorobutadiene and Chlorobenzenes in a Sediment-Water Estuarine System
R825513C008 An Investigation of Chemical Transport from Contaminated Sediments through Porous Containment Structures
R825513C009 Evaluation of Placement and Effectiveness of Sediment Caps
R825513C010 Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C011 Pollutant Fluxes to Aquatic Systems via Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C012 Controls on Metals Partitioning in Contaminated Sediments
R825513C013 Phytoremediation of TNT Contaminated Soil and Groundwaters
R825513C014 Sediment-Based Remediation of Hazardous Substances at a Contaminated Military Base
R825513C015 Effect of Natural Dynamic Changes on Pollutant-Sediment Interaction
R825513C016 Desorption of Nonpolar Organic Pollutants from Historically Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials
R825513C017 Modeling Air Emissions of Organic Compounds from Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials title change in last year to "Long-term Release of Pollutants from Contaminated Sediment Dredged Material"
R825513C018 Development of an Integrated Optic Interferometer for In-Situ Monitoring of Volatile Hydrocarbons
R825513C019 Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Material
R825513C020 Bioremediation of Sediments Contaminated with Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R825513C021 Role of Particles in Mobilizing Hazardous Chemicals in Urban Runoff
R825513C022 Particle Transport and Deposit Morphology at the Sediment/Water Interface
R825513C023 Uptake of Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Sediments
R825513C024 Bioavailability of Desorption Resistant Hydrocarbons in Sediment-Water Systems.
R825513C025 Interactive Roles of Microbial and Spartina Populations in Mercury Methylation Processes in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments in Salt-Marsh Systems
R825513C026 Evaluation of Physical-Chemical Methods for Rapid Assessment of the Bioavailability of Moderately Polar Compounds in Sediments
R825513C027 Freshwater Bioturbators in Riverine Sediments as Enhancers of Contaminant Release
R825513C028 Characterization of Laguna Madre Contaminated Sediments.
R825513C029 The Role of Competitive Adsorption of Suspended Sediments in Determining Partitioning and Colloidal Stability.
R825513C030 Remediation of TNT-Contaminated Soil by Cyanobacterial Mat.
R825513C031 Experimental and Detailed Mathematical Modeling of Diffusion of Contaminants in Fluids
R825513C033 Application of Biotechnology in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments
R825513C034 Characterization of PAH's Degrading Bacteria in Coastal Sediments
R825513C035 Dynamic Aspects of Metal Speciation in the Miami River Sediments in Relation to Particle Size Distribution of Chemical Heterogeneity