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Effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the bioavailability of PCBs in field-contaminated sediments
Citation:
Parks, A., G. Chandler, L. Portis, J. Sullivan, Monique M. Perron, Mark G. Cantwell, Robert M. Burgess, Kay T. Ho, AND P. Ferguson. Effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the bioavailability of PCBs in field-contaminated sediments. Nanotoxicology. Informa Healthcare, London, Uk, 8:111-117, (2014).
Impact/Purpose:
This study addressed the capacity of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) amended to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated New Bedford Harbor (NBH) sediment to reduce the toxicity and bioaccumulation of these hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) to benthic marine organisms. The findings indicate that SWNT amendments increased the survival of two benthic estuarine invertebrates and reduced the accumulation of PCBs to a benthic polychaete. Further, passive sampling-based estimates PCB interstitial water concentrations indicated that SWNTs reduced PCB bioavailability. This investigation indicates that SWNTs are a good adsorbent for PCBs, and most likely other HOCs, and could be useful for remediation purposes in the future once SWNT manufacturing technology improves and costs decrease. In addition, SWNTs may ultimately prove more useful than conventional activated carbon as a remedial contaminated sediment sorbent for selectively reducing HOC bioavailability in situ at contaminated sites.
Description:
Adsorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) to black carbon is a well studied phenomenon. One emerging class of engineered black carbon materials are single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Little research has investigated the potential of SWNT to adsorb and sequester HOCs in complex environmental systems. This study addressed the capacity of SWNT, amended to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated New Bedford Harbor (NBH) sediment, to reduce the toxicity and bioaccumulation of these HOCs to benthic organisms. Overall, SWNT amendments increased the survival of two benthic estuarine invertebrates, Americamysis bahia and Ampelisca abdita, and reduced the accumulation of PCBs to the benthic polychaete, Nereis virens. Reduction in PCB bioaccumulation by SWNT was independent of Kow. Further, passive sampling-based estimates of interstitial water concentrations indicated that SWNT reduced PCB bioavailability. Results from this study suggest that SWNT are a good adsorbent for PCBs and might be useful for remediation in the future once SWNT manufacturing technology improves and costs decrease.
