Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in South and Southeast Asian mussels

Abstract

A comprehensive monitoring survey for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) utilizing mussels as sentinel organisms was conducted in South and Southeast Asia as a part of the Asian Mussel Watch project. Green mussel (Perna viridis) samples collected from a total of 48 locations in India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines during 1994-1999 were analyzed for PAHs, EDCs including nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP) and bisphenol A (BPA), and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) as molecular markers for sewage. Concentrations of NP ranged from 18 to 643 ng/g-dry tissue. The highest levels of NP in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia were comparable to those observed in Tokyo Bay. Elevated concentrations of EDCs were not observed in Vietnam and Cambodia, probably due to the lower extent of industrialization in these regions. No consistent relationship between concentrations of phenolic EDCs and LABs were found, suggesting that sewage is not a major source of EDCs. Concentrations of PAHs ranged from 11 to 1,133 ng/g-dry, which were categorized as "low to moderate" levels of pollution. The ratio of methylphenanthrenes to phenanthrene (MP/P ratio) was >1.0 in 20 out of 25 locations, indicating extensive input of petrogenic PAHs. This study provides a bench-mark for data on the distribution of anthropogenic contaminants in this region, which is essential in evaluating temporal and spatial variation and effect of future regulatory measures.

Bioaccumulation of PAHs in Padina boryana Alga Collected from a Contaminated Site on the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

“…Consequently, living tissues were more enriched with LMW PAHs in relation to their environments. The present finding agreed with the results of Isobe et al [18], who found LMW/HMW ratios >1.0 in many Asian countries. Skarpheðinsdottir et al…”

Non-Target Screening Method for the Identification of Persistent and Emerging Organic Contaminants in Seafood and Sediment from Jakarta Bay

“…Concentrations of PAHs in Jakarta Bay sediments in this study were the highest so far reported from Asian coastal regions (Takada et al, 1992;Isobe et al, 2004). In the present study, PAH concentrations in mussels were much higher than those reported earlier from the same location or from other South East Asian bays (Tsutsumi et al, 2002, Isobe et al, 2007.…”

Alkylphenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in eastern Mediterranean Spanish coastal marine bivalves

“…Isobe et al (2007) reported higher OP values in the mussels from different Asiatic countries (up to 54.4 g/kg d.w. in Tokyo Bay) than those found in this study (<LOD-12.5 g/kg d.w. in mussels).…”

“…Li et al (2008) reported NP values in mussels from the Massan Bay (Korea) up to 290 g/kg d.w., which are lower than the maximum value found in this study (120 g/kg w.w. which would be 600 g/kg d.w. considering the measured water content) but similar to the average pollution level found along the Mediterranean coast studied (200 g/kg d.w.). Isobe et al (2007) carried out an extensive monitoring survey in South and Southeast Asia coasts, reporting NP concentrations in mussels from 18 g/kg d.w. in Malaysia to 1347 g/kg d.w. in Tokyo Bay. The rapid population growth and drastic industrialization in South and Southeast Asia during the last decades, together with the no regulation of alkylphenol compounds in these countries, explain the significant NP concentrations observed especially in high industrialised regions.…”