Author(s)

0. Andersen, A.D. Rasmussen, K. Timmmermann, M. Christensen & G. Banta

Abstract

Effect of polychaete bioturbation on sediment-water fluxes of pyrene or cadmium O. Andersen, A. D. Rasmussen, K. Timmermann, M. Christensen & G. Banta Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark Abstract The fate of persistant organic or inorganic pollutants in marine ecosystems depends on their physicochemical characteristics. Due to hydrophobicity or particle reactivity, net fluxes are often from water to sediment. As a result, sediment pollutant concentrations may be orders of magnitude higher than concentrations in water. The sediment-water kinetics and sediment distribution of pollutants are further influenced by biotic factors as infaunal bioturbartion. We have studied effects of polychaete bioturbation on the fluxes of cadmium and pyrene from sediment to water and vice versa, as well as on their sediment distribution: Irrigation extensively increased Cd^ flux from water to sediment, and reduced Cd^ flux from sediment to water. However

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