Mass transfer of hydrophobic organic chemicals between siliconesheets and through plant leaves and low-density polyethylene

• Plant leaves play an important role in the fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in theenvironment. Yet much remains unknown about the permeability of leaves by HOCs. In this pilot studywe measured (i) the kinetics of mass transfer of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and sixpolychlorinated biphenyls between a spiked and an unspiked sheet of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) indirect contact with each other for 24 h and (ii) kinetics of mass transfer of two PAHs through leaves andlow-density polyethylene (LDPE) in a passive dosing experiment by inserting these matrices between thetwo sheets of PDMS for 48 h. The kinetics of mass transfer of fluoranthene between PDMS sheets in directcontact were a factor of 12 slower than those reported in the literature. The kinetics of mass transfer offluorene and phenanthrene through leaves were within the range of those previously reported for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid through isolated cuticles. Our results provide a proof-of-concept demon-stration that the passive dosing method applied in this study can be used to measure the mass transfercoefficients of organic chemicals through leaves. Key recommendations for future experiments are toload the PDMS at the highest feasible concentrations to avoid working at analyte levels close to the limitof detection, to keep the leaves moist and to minimize potential pathways for contamination of the PDMSsheets by exposure to laboratory air.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Passive dosing

PDMS

Mass transfer coefficients

Leaves

LDPE

Applied Environmental Science

tillämpad miljövetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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