The toxicity and concentrations of PAHs in creosote-contaminated lake sediment

Sediment samplers, divided into three layers (0 – 10, 10 – 20 and 20 – 30 cm), were collected from 16 sites in Lake Jamsanvesi, Central Finland. The acute toxicity of pore waters and elutriates (sediment + water 1:4 v/v) were studied by bioluminescence inhibition test and by immobilisation of water fleas (Daphnia magna Straus). Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and elutriates were measured by gas chromatography using flame ionization detection (GC/FID). The highest total PAH concentration was 3.3 mg/g dry weight in the sediment and up to 1.7 mg/l in the elutriate of the uppermost (0 – 10 cm) layer, also being the most toxic to photoluminencent bacteria, …