Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mussels from a South American Estuary

Abstract

Bivalves, especially mussels, have been pointed as putative species to monitor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine environment. After several environmental PAHs baseline reports, the present study was conducted to assess for the first time the levels of PAHs in native mussels (Brachidontes rodriguezii) collected from a critical industrialized estuary of Argentina. Under this objective, after an 18-month sampling period, 34 pools of mussels were assessed for 17 PAHs, including the 16 compounds prioritized by United States Environmental Protection Agency. By means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, results showed total PAHs concentrations in mussel's tissue ranged from under laboratory detection limits to 482.4 ng/g dry weight. Mussel body burdens were dominated by lower molecular weight PAHs, such as phenanthrene, naphthalene, and pyrene, whereas the overall PAHs profile suggested the predominance of petrogenic sources. Finally, the potential ecotoxicological impact was evaluated by applying Environmental Assessment Criteria and benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalent factors.

Reproductive aspects and energy allocation compromise to aerial exposure in the intertidal mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii. A case study at two tidal levels

“…Its wide distribution, the condition of ecosystem engineer (Borthagaray and Carranza, 2007) and recent studies considering B. rodriguezii a sentinel species (e.g. Laitano and Fernández-Gimenez, 2016;Oliva et al, 2015Oliva et al, , 2017Quintas et al, 2017;Buzzi and Marcovecchio, 2018;Arrighetti et al, 2019) support the ecological relevance of the species. However, the effect of environmental stress on energy allocation patterns of this species remains unknown.…”

Bioaccumulation monitoring of chemical contaminants in musselsMytilus galloprovincialis from the southern coast of the Marmara Sea, Turkey

“…Among prior studies, Nwaichi and Ntorgbo [5] reported that the levels of benzo(a)pyrene and total benz(a)anthrecene, benzo(b) fluoranthene, and chrysene in three different seafoods (mudskipper, periwinkle, and oyster) were in the range of 0.001-87400 µg/kg. In native mussels (Brachidontes rodriguezii) collected from a critical industrialized estuary in Argentina, the total concentrations of PAHs were reported to be under the limit of 482.4 ng/g [8]. In studies related to M. galloprovincialis, the total PAHs concentrations were reported in wide ranges from different study areas; 664 to 9083 ng/g from the Prince Islands in the Marmara Sea [22], 25 to 390 ng/g from the western Mediterranean Sea (French Riviera, Corsica, Sardinia) [23], and 14.8 to 645.3 mg/kg from two inlets found in the Gulf of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Italy) [24].…”

“…While limited studies about dioxins in marine animals (bivalves constitute the major parts of investigations) exist in the literature, PAHs were well documented in many types of research from agricultural areas and marine environments [5,[7][8][9]. However, there is always a necessity to monitor these substances continuously in these animals to ensure that no public health issues originate from food or the environment, especially if they are close to agricultural or industrialized areas.…”

Levels of PAHs, PCBs, and toxic metals in Ruditapes philippinarum and Donax trunculus in Marmara Sea, Turkey

“…In addition, our results were similar with those reported in some previous studies. The level of PAH in bivalves have been reported as 0.18–1.66 μg kg −1 in clams ( Paphia undulata ), 25 0.48 μg kg −1 in native mussels ( Brachidontes rodriguezii ), 26 up to 87.40 μg kg −1 in American oysters ( Crassostrea virginica ), 7 7.05–18.41 μg kg −1 in mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ), and 12.02–27.29 μg kg −1 in oysters ( Ostrea edulis ) 27 . Comparing the data obtained in this study with those mentioned earlier, the difference may vary due to temporal environmental conditions, which is intensely different between countries.…”