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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />J. <br />I <br />I <br />J <br />f <br />I <br />I <br />J <br />f <br />J <br />I <br />, <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />OcJ15S5 <br /> <br />PAH-related bile metabolite data observed in flannelmouth suckers to what is typically <br />found in channel catfish, since these two fish species collected from the same stream <br />reaches, typically exhibit widely variant concentrations of PAH-related bile metabolites <br />(McDonald pers. comm. 1993) <br /> <br />Future studies of the San Juan River basin, in reference to PAH residues, will center on the <br />use of a semipermeable polymeric membrane device (SPMD) containing a thin film of pure <br />lipid (Triolein) for in situ passive concentration and separation of trace aquatic <br />contaminants. The SPMDs make possible a cost-effective method to detect the presence <br />of organic contaminants. In addition, the USFWS's National Fisheries Contaminant <br />Research Center is conducting time trials with SPMDs in order to be able to predict <br />average PAH concentrations in water based upon observed concentrations in SPMDs. <br />Thus, in the future it may be possible to determine water and sediment PAH <br />concentrations using SPMDs. <br /> <br />The analytical method used in the SPMD technology is much less complex than the current <br />HPLC/fluorescence method used to detect PAHs in bile and tissue samples. The <br />membrane bound lipid is easily extracted from the sample site and contaminant residues <br />are dialyzed into an organic solvent. These devices will concentrate organic pollutants, <br />including PAHs which are normally metabolized by aquatic organisms and provide an index <br />of pollution severity including estimates of rates of uptake and exposure. SPMDs <br />concentrate PAHs to theoretical maximum levels whereas species specific differences <br />makes this impossible in live samples. SPMDs can be used in both lotic and lentic <br />systems, groundwater, and processed waters. The data collected from tests using the <br />SPMD technOlogy will not only provide a measure of environmental concentrations of <br />PAHs, but will provide necessary information on water quality in the San Juan River basin <br />useful for estimating contaminant-related risks to endangered fish as well as other aspects <br />of the aquatic ecosystem. (Huckins et al. 1990a, 1990b, 1990c) Research is currently <br />being conducted to determine if the SPMD technology can also be used as a cleanup <br />device (Meadows et al. 1993). <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />',Ii~~, ;, <br />