PARTITIONING OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL CONGENERS IN THE SEAWATER OF NEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS

The partitioning of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) between particulate and dissolved phases of seawater was examined along a concentration gradient in New Bedford Harbor, MA. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the log of the partition coefficients (K(p)) and the log of the octanol/water partition coefficients (K(ow)) for six PCB congeners at four stations. A seasonal trend (i.e., summer-winter) in partitioning was observed. Log K(p) was inversely correlated with temperature and to a lesser extent with total suspended solids (TSS) at each station. Multiple regression analysis indicated that approximately 70% of the variability in log K(p) along the PCB concentration gradient was accounted for by temperature, log K(ow), and TSS. Temperature and log K(ow) were equally important in defining changes in log K(p), with TSS contributing the least predictive ability.