Biodepuration of petroleum-derived polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons from a bivalve mollusc
Two species of bivalves, Mya arenaria and Mercenaria mercenaria were analyzed to identify and quantify nine polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons attributable to either natural environmental accumulation, or attributable to exposure in controlled laboratory aquarium system, respectively. Extracts from naturally occurring (e.g. Jamaica bay) and laboratory maintained organism samples were characterized using a 9-PAH reference exposure standard. The results clearly show that in-vitro exposed Mercenaria mercenaria sampled over a 45-day depuration period, do not depurate the 9-PAH's but rather bioaccumulate them at detectable levels. Due to the commercial importance of these clam species for human consumption, and the fact that these PAH's are toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic, the practice of clam depuration and clam relaying must be re-evaluated in light of potential public health implications.
- Research Organization:
- Polytechnic Univ., Brooklyn, NY (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5535622
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Impact of particulate pollutant metals on larval and adult bivalve molluscs
Polynuclear aromatic hycrocarbons
Related Subjects
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CONTAMINATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOOD INDUSTRY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
INVERTEBRATES
MOLLUSCS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PUBLIC HEALTH