Assessment of Submerged Vegetation as Indicators of Irgarol Contamination

Authors

Melissa V. Fernandez, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Major/Program

Chemistry

First Advisor's Name

Piero R. Gardinali

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

David Chatfield

Third Advisor's Name

Rudolf Jaffé

Keywords

Irgarol, Bioaccumulation, Uptake, Depurate, Florida, Marine, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, Surface Water

Date of Defense

9-13-2010

Abstract

Irgarol 1051 is a common antifoulant toxic to certain marine organisms. Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are exposed to this herbicide when it leaches into the marine environment from painted structures, making SAVs ideal candidates to function as sentinel indicator of contamination. In the initial stage of this study, Coconut Grove and Key Largo Harbor were assessed for environmental exposure to Irgarol. Water, sediment and SAVs were collected, the latter two subject to automated solid phase extraction, and all samples analyzed by GC/MS-SIM for Irgarol and its metabolite, M1. Of the vegetation analyzed, Halodule and Syringodium had the highest capacity to bioaccumulate Irgarol and M1. The root system and leaf contributed negligibly and significantly, respectively, to Irgarol uptake. In the final stage, a transplant between Coconut Grove and Chicken Key showed that the biota Thalassia and Halodule were able to uptake and depurate Irgarol, respectively, over a period of 30 days.

Identifier

FI10121001

Recommended Citation

Fernandez, Melissa V., "Assessment of Submerged Vegetation as Indicators of Irgarol Contamination" (2010). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 328.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/328