Relationship between metabolism and bioaccumulation of benzo[α]pyrene in benthic invertebrates

Abstract

The potential influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolism on bioaccumulation is well accepted, but rarely has been examined in many species of benthic invertebrates that commonly are found in contaminated sediments, or used in bioaccumulation or toxicity tests. In this study, the relative ability of 11 species of near-shore benthic invertebrates to metabolize and bioaccumulate a model PAH, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), was evaluated. Species examined included six polychaetes (Clymenella torquata, Nereis virens, Nereis succinea, Nephtys incisa, Spio setosa and Cirriformia grandis), three bivalves, (Macoma balthica, Mya arenaria, and Mulinia lateralis), and two amphipods (Ampelisca abdita and Leptocheirus plumulosus). After 7 d of exposure to sediments spiked with radiolabeled B[a]P, metabolites comprised between 6.1% (Clymenella torquata) to 85.7% (Nereis succinea) of total accumulated B[a]P, with individual species from the same phylogenetic groups showing large differences in their ability to metabolize this PAH. Bioaccumulation factors (B[a]P in tissue/B[a]P in sediment) were inversely related to the species' ability to metabolize PAH, highlighting the importance of considering metabolism when interpreting bioaccumulation across several species. These data argue strongly against the continued use of the large polychaete Nereis virens, one of the species showing the greatest ability to metabolize B[a]P, for bioaccumulation testing when PAHs are being considered. Other commonly used test species had relatively low levels of metabolism (Ampelisca abdita, Leptocheirus plumulosus, and Macoma balthica), supporting their use in evaluation of potential PAH impact on the environment.

Cytochrome P4501A biomarker indication of oil exposure in harlequin ducks up to 20 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill

“…This presumably is due, in part, to the fact that intertidal areas of Prince William Sound received a large portion of the spilled Exxon Valdez oil [18] and sequestered lingering oil a decade or more postspill [15]. Also, because certain molluscan invertebrates have a limited capacity to metabolize PAHs [36] and are known to bioaccumulate PAHs [37,38], predators such as harlequin ducks may be more likely to ingest PAHs with their prey. Also, some invertivores disturb sediment during foraging, which is a potential mechanism for release of hydrocarbons and ingestion.…”

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in continental shelf sediment of China: Implications for anthropogenic influences on coastal marine environment

“…3) were likely to be caused by the region-specific source profiles and/or regional difference of gas-particle partitioning which was a function of ambient temperature (Feng et al, 2006;Liu et al, 2007b). Other unknown factors, such as benthic biota, possibly accounted for the spatial differences of PAHs (Rust et al, 2004). Unfortunately, we can not estimate such influence due to the lack of information on the community composition and distribution, as well as on the mechanism governing the accumulation of PAHs in benthic organisms in the sampling area.…”

Determining Steady-state Tissue Residues for Invertebrates in Contaminated Sediment

“…The bent-nose clam Macoma nasuta is a facultative filter feeder that switches to deposit feeding in bioaccumulation tests due to low food concentration in the overlying water. Macoma nasuta metabolizes hydrophobic organic contaminants much less efficiently than N. virens (Rust et al 2004). Both species, shown in Figure 3, were acquired from Aquatic Research Organisms (Hampton, NH).…”

“…The uptake rates determined for fluoranthene and pyrene were very similar (Table B4; Figure 23). Lack of detectable bioaccumulation of most PAHs in N. virens present in the sediment may be due to the highly efficient metabolism of PAHs by this polychaete worm (McElroy 1990;Driscoll and McElroy 1996;Rust et al 2004;Jorgensen et al 2005). Unless the project goal is to assess uptake in organisms that are efficient metabolizers of PAHs, this invertebrate species may be inappropriate to assess the bioaccumulation potential of PAHs in dredged material (Driscoll and McElroy 1996).…”