Marine mesoscale studies with sandworms (Alitta virens) were conducted to isolate important processes governing the exposure and bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at contaminated sediment sites. Ex situ equilibrium sampling with silicone-coated jars, and in situ passive sampling with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were used to determine the performance of an activated carbon (AC) amendment remedy applied to the bed sediment. A quantitative thermodynamic exposure assessment (‘QTEA’) was performed, showing that PCB concentrations in polymers at equilibrium with the surficial sediment were suited to measure and assess the remedy effectiveness with regard to PCB bioaccumulation in worms. In practice, monitoring the performance of sediment remedies should utilize a consistent and predictive form of polymeric sampling of the sediment. The present study found that ex situ equilibrium sampling of the surficial sediment was the most useful for understanding changes in bioaccumulation potential as a result of the applied remedy, during bioturbation and ongoing sediment and contaminant influx processes. The ultrathin silicone coatings of the ex situ sampling provided fast equilibration of PCBs between the sediment interstitial water and the polymer, and the multiple coating thicknesses were applied to confirm equilibrium and the absence of surface sorption artifacts. Overall, ex situ equilibrium sampling of surficial sediment could fit into existing frameworks as a robust and cost-effective tool for contaminated sediment site assessment.

中文翻译：

---

在沉积物沉积过程中，活性炭修复沉积物中沙虫（Alitta virens）可利用的 PCB 的定量热力学暴露评估

对沙虫（Alitta virens）进行了海洋中尺度研究，以隔离控制受污染沉积物地点多氯联苯（PCB）暴露和生物累积的重要过程。使用硅涂层罐进行异位平衡取样，以及使用低密度聚乙烯 (LDPE) 进行原位被动取样，以确定应用于床沉积物的活性炭 (AC) 改良剂的性能。进行了定量热力学暴露评估（“QTEA”），表明聚合物中与表面沉积物平衡的 PCB 浓度适合测量和评估蠕虫中 PCB 生物累积的补救效果。在实践中，监测沉积物补救措施的效果应采用一致且可预测的沉积物聚合物采样形式。本研究发现，在生物扰动以及持续的沉积物和污染物流入过程中，表面沉积物的异位平衡采样对于了解由于采取的补救措施而导致的生物累积潜力的变化最有用。异位采样的超薄有机硅涂层提供沉积物间隙水和聚合物之间 PCB 的快速平衡，并且应用多种涂层厚度来确认平衡和不存在表面吸附伪影。总体而言，表面沉积物的异位平衡采样可以适合现有框架，作为污染沉积物场地评估的强大且具有成本效益的工具。