Bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Santos Bay (Brazil) and its adjacent continental shelf

Abstract

This study evaluated the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Santos Bay (SB) and the adjacent Santos Continental Shelf (SCS) in Brazil. Biliary metabolites were measured in several fish species to establish a baseline for future monitoring programs. Bile samples from different species of fish were collected monthly from July to December 2005 in SB, and in August 2005 and February 2006 on SCS. Metabolite concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detectors. Naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzo[a]pyrene metabolite concentrations ranged from 24 to 810 µg g -1 of bile, 1.8 to 68 µg g -1 of bile, and below the limit of quantitation to 1.3 µg g -1 of bile, respectively. Despite its high concentrations, the levels of naphthalene metabolites were in regions of low-contamination, while benzo[a]pyrene metabolite were in the same range as those reported in moderately contaminated areas, which may indicate pyrolytic contamination by PAHs. No significant differences in the metabolite concentrations were found between the SB and the SCS samples or during the periods of collection. Future studies with a single biomonitoring species should be conducted, considering age, sex, and feeding condition of the individuals. The metabolite data presented in this study is an important baseline information for this urbanized region, which hosts several sources of contaminants.

Environmental variability and hazards in the coastal and continental shelf regions of South America and the Caribbean

“…Heterotrophic bacteria dominated the picoplankton community throughout the study period and among other photosynthetic counterparts, Synechococcus showed greater relative importance than picoeukaryotes. Patire et al (2023) measured biliary metabolites in various fish species, establishing a baseline for future monitoring programs aimed at evaluating the bioavailability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). These authors presented a study carried out in Santos Bay (SB) and the adjacent Santos Continental Shelf (SCS), Brazil.…”

“…Despite their high concentrations, the levels of the naphthalene metabolite were in regions of low contamination, while those of the benzo[a]pyrene metabolite were in the same range as those reported in moderately contaminated areas, which may indicate pyrolytic contamination by PAHs. The metabolite data presented by Patire et al (2023) are important baseline information for the study region, which is highly urbanized and home to several sources of contaminants. Nunes et al (2023) studied the spread of the largest oil spill accident that happened off the Brazilian coast from August 2019 to March 2020.…”