Fate of a Volatile Chlorinated Solvent in Indoor Aquatic Microcosms: Sublethal and Static Exposure to [14C]Dichloromethane

The goal of this work was to study the fate of dichloromethane in indoor aquatic microcosms after a sublethal and static exposure to simulate the accidental contamination of a lenitic ecosystem such as littoral lake zone or a pond. This kind of ecosystem is characterized by high productive capacity and rich biocoenose, and are usually first affected by acute or chronic pollution. Microcosms containing immersed bryophytes (Fontinalis antipyretica), macrophytes (Lemna minor, Groenlendia densa, Elodea canadensis), molluscs (Physa fontinalis), crustaceans (Daphnia magna), and unicellular green algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus) were contaminated with sublethal concentrations of dichloromethane or [14C]dichloromethane. The initial mean concentration was 9.9 ± 3.7 μM. The mean concentration exposure for organisms was 4.5 ± 1.5 μM. The fate of 14C radioactivity was monitored by measuring the radioactivity of the sediment, water, macro- and microorganism, and atmospheric compartments. Radioactivity in the water disappeared quickly from the microcosms, most likely as [14C]dichloromethane (t1/2 = 5.31 ± 0.41 days). At the end of the experiments, radioactivity was mainly located in the atmosphere, with traces remaining in the biomass. Under static conditions, the bioaccumulation of 14C radioactivity from the radiolabeled dichloromethane was negligible.