Phenolic compounds in the nearshore waters of Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Ten pollutant phenols extracted from an oil refinery discharge, urban storm water and sewage effluent were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Recoveries varied from 43% to 97%, with a detection limit of 0.5 μg L-1. Concentrations ranged from below the detection limit up to 114.0μg L-1, the highest being in sewage effluent. The most common were phenol and cresol. The effects of similar concentrations were determined in bioaccumulation experiments using the mussel Mytilus edulis and fish Trachurus novaezelandiae. Recoveries of phenols from tissues were 10-40%, with a detection limit of 0.5 ng g-1. 2,4-dimethylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chloro, 3-methylphenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol were accumulated, with bioconcentration factors ranging from 2.51 � 0.51 for dimethylphenol to 283.8 � 5.58 for pentachlorophenol; when placed in clean sea water, both species depurated all accumulated phenols to concentrations below detection within 24 h. Neither phenol nor cresol were accumulated. Phenol and o-cresol inhibited the germination of Ulva lactuca gametes at concentrations above 1 mg L-1 (100 times the concentrations detected in the water samples). Muscle and liver tissue from fish and invertebrates collected from the oil refinery discharge site in Botany Bay and control localities contained no detectable phenols.

Removal of p-chlorophenol by the marine microalga Tetraselmis marina

“…Chlorophenol concentrations in industrial effluents range between 0.5 and 10,000 μg L −1 (Ettala et al 1992;Jank and Fowlie 1980;Melcer and Bedford 1988;Petrasek et al 1983) while they do not exceed 10 μg L −1 in marine environments (Wegman and Hofstee 1979;Jennings et al 1996;Dimou et al 2006). Chlorophenolic compounds have been reported to have toxic effects in marine organisms, including marine phytoplankton, even at very low concentrations (Grimwood and Mascarenhas 1997).…”

“…Chlorophenolic compounds have been reported to have toxic effects in marine organisms, including marine phytoplankton, even at very low concentrations (Grimwood and Mascarenhas 1997). The United States Environmental Protection Agency criteria are to the μg L −1 level to protect aquatic organisms from chlorophenolic compounds, down to <0.5 μg L −1 for pentachlorophenol (Jennings et al 1996). In the present study, in order to evaluate the effect of phenol and chlorophenols on T.marina growth, high and environmentally unrealistic concentrations were necessary to cause a measurable algal response.…”

Effects of phenol on ovarian P450arom gene expression and aromatase activity in vivo and antioxidant metabolism in common carp Cyprinus carpio

“…Biotransformation of benzene (Bruce et al 1987;Jennings et al 1996), tyrosine synthesis and reactions in the digestive system of vertebrates (Tsuruta et al 1996) also produce phenol. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first described phenol as an ecotoxic compound.…”

Comparative chemical sensitivity between marine Australian and Northern Hemisphere ecosystems: Is an uncertainty factor warranted for water‐quality–guideline setting?

“…Out of the 109 substances found, there was enough information for only 3 (ammonia, phenol, and 4‐chlorophenol). Chemical contamination of coastal areas by these substances is common, arising from factors such as agriculture, industrial action, and urban stormwater . Chemical toxicity data were collated for a variety of marine trophic levels from Australia/New Zealand and the Northern Hemisphere.…”