EPA Grant Number: R827015-01-0
Title: Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for Bioavailability Screening of
Soils Containing Petrochemicals
Investigators: Roman Lanno, Kathleen Duncan
Institutions: Oklahoma State University, University of Tulsa
EPA Project Officer: Bala Krishnan
Project Period: February 1, 1999 to January 31, 2000 (N/C Ext. to June 3
0, 2000)
Project Amount: $135,687
Research Category: Ecorisk analysis
The major accomplishments of this quarter were:
Research this quarter involved earthworm toxicity tests and continued monitoring of bacterial populations. Soils that were collected during a previous quarter were prepared for earthworm bioassays. Rocks, sticks, straw, and root masses were removed and each soil was sieved or forced through a 4-mm mesh metal sieve and replaced in storage at 4 C until used for earthworm bioassays. Bioassays were conducted for 28 day to examine survival and cocoon production. Mortality was complete in both North lobe soils in less than 7 days, while partial mortality (<50%) was observed in South lobe soils over 28 days. Cocoon production was observed only in the tilled prairie control and South lobe soils with nutrients only.
The numbers of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, represented by aerobic heterotrophs, were not different over time between hydrocarbon-contaminated and prairie reference sites. However, heterotrophic bacteria capable of growth on naphthalene were elevated in hydrocarbon-contaminated soils compared to prairie reference areas (Figure 2).
Plans for the remainder of the study include quantification of bioavailable petroleum hydrocarbon using SPME techniques.
