Semipermeable membrane devices containing model lipid : a new approach to monitoring the bioavailability of lipophilic contaminants and estimating their bioconcentration potential

The bioconcentration of nonpolar organic pollutants by aquatic biota was simulated, using low-density polyethylene tubing, containing thin films of model lipid. The semipermeable polymeric membrane devices offer promise as time-integrated concentrators of nonpolar organics in aquatic systems and as a method of estimating bioavailability and potential bioconcentration factors. Results are reported for uptake kinetics and steady-state distribution coefficients of aqueous residues of fenvalerate, mirex, 2,2',5,5'- and 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyls when lipids are used in these membrane devices.