Toxicity of eight polycyclic aromatic compounds to the red clover (Trifolium pratense), ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and mustard (Sinapsis alba)

L. E. Sverdrup, P. H. Krogh, T. Nielsen, C. Kjær, J. Stenersen

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    Abstract

    The effect of eight polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) on the seed emergence and early life-stage growth of three terrestrial plants (Sinapsis alba, Trifolium pratense and Lolium perenne) were studied in a greenhouse, using a Danish agricultural soil with an organic carbon content of 1.6%. After three weeks of exposure, seed emergence and seedling weight (fresh weight and dry weight) were determined. Exposure concentrations were veri.ed with chemical analysis. The substances tested were four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (.uoranthene, pyrene, phenanthrene and .uorene), the N-, S-, and O-substituted analogues of .uorene (carbazole, dibenzothiophene and dibenzofuran, respectively), and the quinoline representative acridine. Seedling growth was a far more sensitive endpoint than seed emergence for all substances. Concentrations estimated to give a 20% reduction of seedling fresh weight (EC20-values) ranged from 36 to 290 mgkg_1 for carbazole, 43 to 93 mgkg_1 for dibenzofuran, 37 to 110 mg kg_1 for dibenzothiophene, 140 to 650 mg kg_1 for .uoranthene, 55 to 380 mgkg_1 for .uorene, 37 to 300 mg kg_1 for phenanthrene, and 49 to 1300 mg kg_1 for pyrene. For acridine, no toxicity was observed within the concentration range tested (1-1000 mg kg_1). As illustrated by the EC20-values, there was a rather large di.erence in sensitivity between the species, and T. pratense was the most sensitive of the species tested.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalChemosphere
    Volume53
    Pages (from-to)993-1003
    ISSN0045-6535
    Publication statusPublished - 2003

    Keywords

    • Plants
    • Soil
    • PAH
    • Heterocyclic
    • Ecotoxicity

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