Assessment of PAHs occurrence and distribution in brown mussels (Perna perna Linnaeus 1758) subject to different levels of contamination in Brazil

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Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are broadly studied due to their deleterious effects on organisms and humans. In this paper, the brown mussels (Perna perna) was chosen as indicators of PAH contamination in two contrasting Brazilian coastal areas, subject to different levels of anthropogenic impact. PAHs were analyzed by GC–MS in three mussels size-classes samples. Bulk PAHs (PAHs) concentration varied between 432.69700.25ngg1 in the less contaminated region (South Brazil - FMAS), and 544.91848.78ngg1 in the more polluted area (Guanabara Bay - BG). Concentrations of 16PAHs varied between 38.9663.47ngg1 and 62.92243.59ngg1 in FMAS and BG, respectively. The results of show the study that FMAS and BG mussels display low to moderate contamination, confirming the use of these organisms as sentinels of environmental contamination. All samples had benzo(a)pyrene concentrations below the established European Union threshold.

Introduction

Increasing oil and gas industrial offshore activities in Brazil generated an augmentation in coastal ecosystem contamination by oil-derived hydrocarbons as chemical compounds contaminate water, sediments, and affect the aquatic biota.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination have been extensively studied in (aquatic) organisms (Baumard et al., 1998a, Francioni et al., 2007a, Francioni et al., 2007b, Moon et al., 2012, Woottoon et al., 2003, Yoshimine et al., 2012, Zhao et al., 2014; among others) due to their toxicity to aquatic organisms and humans (Pereira Netto et al., 2000, Phillips, 1999, Sakiara et al., 2010, Vanrooij et al., 1993, Who, 1998). Many PAHs compounds are able to interact/interfere with DNA, and are being considered to be potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic (Francioni et al., 2007a, Neff, 2002, Pereira Netto et al., 2000).

Thus, biota is one of the environmental compartments relevant for PAH-derived contamination studies. Shellfish (bivalves), and especially mussels, are considered good biomonitoring organisms for coastal aquatic ecosystem contamination since they are cosmopolitan species, sessile, and filter feeders (Coles et al., 1995, Francioni et al., 2007a, Francioni et al., 2007b, Neff, 2002, Yoshimine et al., 2012). The determination of PAHs in other compartments such as total suspended matter (TSM) and sediments is important too, and allows a full evaluation of the contamination in the study area.

The main goal of this study is to evaluate the use of brown mussel (Perna perna) as a biomonitoring species to PAHs contamination level in two coastal areas in Brazil, both subject to a distinct anthropogenic impact degree.

Section snippets

Study area

The present study was carried out in two coastal areas in Brazil: Santa Catarina Island’s South Bay, and Guanabara Bay.

Santa Catarina Island, on the south Brazilian coast, has an extension of approximately 410km2 and a permanent population of ∼420,000 inhabitants (IBGE, 2010). A narrow channel separates the island and from the continent, and it is divided into two semi-enclosed water bodies, known as North- and South-Bay. The samples were collected from “Fazenda Marinha Atlântico Sul” (FMAS),

Sampling

At the aquaculture site FMAS (Santa Catarina Island, S Brazil), the mussel samples were collected in October 2014.

At BG, the mussel samples were collected in June 2015 from Engenhoca Cove, at the inner bay portion. The mussels were taken from the hull of a boat, anchored in the same place for one year by the time of the sampling.

For each site were obtained 90 individuals, that were separated into three size classes (3.8–6.3 cm—Small (S); 6.4–7.2 cm—Medium (M); 7.3–8.9 cm—Large (L)). For each

Results and discussion

The median CI for the small, medium and large size-classes at FMAS was 101.9, 101.5 and 131.5, respectively. At BG, median values were 115.0, 141.1 and 155.7, for the same size-classes. The CI values were significantly different for FMAS and BG’s mussels (p=0.0258). Thus, BG’s mussels have a larger mass compared to those at the FMAS aquaculture site. This could be related to the higher eutrophic level at Guanabara Bay; the higher nutrient availability favors a higher phytoplankton biomass, and

Conclusions

Mussels assimilate relatively more light-molecular-weight and alkylated compounds. This may reflect the local environmental contamination level and/or a preferential assimilation of these compounds by the organisms.

In both study areas, results did not show any significant difference in PAH accumulation relative to mussel’s size-classes. There were also no significant differences relative to the PAHs and 16PAHs USEPA results.

The studied mussels, with size for consumption, presented BaPeq

Acknowledgments

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. A.B. Ramos thanks FAPERJ for a master grant. And the authors are grateful and acknowledge the support of “Fazenda Marinha Atlântico Sul”, Francisco de Matos during the collection of the mussels, LARAMG laboratory for allowing freeze-drying the samples, LABMAM laboratory for the analyzed by GC-MS and Valerie Agnew for help to the translation text.

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