Aromatic from zooplankton

For the removal of biogenic olefins from the aromatic fraction of a macrofauna or zooplankton extract, we discarded the GPC fraction that eluted prior to n-dodecane. The later eluting fraction, which would contain any aromatic hydrocarbons present (including any of the alkyl homologues commonly found in petroleum), was collected and analyzed by gas chromatography. A gas chromatogram of the aromatic fraction... 

Figure 9. Gas chromatogram of aromatic fraction from a zooplankton sample before GPC cleanup...

One advantage of this rapid release of aromatic hydrocarbons accumulated from acute exposure would apply to exposure from spills and other acute events. If the event is only a few days in duration, it is highly probable that most of the accumulated aromatic hydrocarbons would be eliminated and or metabolized to low levels, depending on the species. For example, tissue concentrations of anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benz[a] anthracene in zooplankton (primarily Pseudocalanus minutus) were not persistent and declined to below detection concentrations (0.1 tg/g) during the 9 d after a pulse of oil was added to a mesocosm (Lee et al. 1978). Conversely, the chronic exposure seems to produce tissue burdens that are relatively stable, especially for the more hydrophobic of the PAHs. 

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