Aquatic fate of synfuel residuals: bioaccumulation of aniline and phenol by the freshwater phytoplankter Scenedesmus quadricauda

Coal liquefaction compounds could, through accidental release, enter aquatic environments. Experiments were conducted to determine the kinetics, degree of bioconcentration and stability of two of these compounds at the first level of aquatic food web. The authors exposed the freshwater phytoplankter Scenedesmus quadricauda to sublethal concentrations of 14C-labeled phenol and aniline. Both accumulation and elimination occurred within a few hours and followed hyperbolic kinetics. Results indicate that substantial quantities of accumulated compounds remain as the parent compound (22% for phenol and 52% for aniline) for up to 24 h and could be available to animals higher in the food web. Bioconcentration factors were 3.5 for phenol and 91 for aniline. 24 references, 2 figures, 1 table