The disposition of benzo(a)pyrene in the periphyton communities of two South Carolina streams: uptake and biotransformation

The effect of periphyton community composition and colonization time on the uptake and biotransformation of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was determined in laboratory studies. Naturally colonized glass microscope slides were collected after 3 and 6 weeks from Castor Creek, which has a predominantly desmid flora, and after 3 and 5 weeks from diatom-dominated Upper Three Runs Creek. When expressed on a slide surface-area basis, the Castor Creek periphyton showed significantly greater BaP uptake rates at both colonization periods. Within streams, uptake rates increased significantly with colonization time. Autoradiographic analysis suggests that BaP was accumulated by surface sorption, especially to gelatinous sheath material. Active biotransformation as measured by the percentage extractable non-BaP 14C was not detected in either community.