Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the clam Tridacna maxima from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The concentrations of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(ghi)perylene, fluoranthene, and perylene, were measured in clams, Tridacna maxima, collected from sites on the Great Barrier Reef ranging in latitude from 14/sup 0/31'S to 23/sup 0/33' S. At most locations the concentrations of PAH were not significantly above the limit of detection, e.g., pyrene < 0.07 ..mu..g/kg wet weight, benzo(a)pyrene < 0.01 ..mu..g/kg, and chrysene < 0.07 ..mu..g/kg. These levels of PAH appear to be the lowest reported for clams anywhere in the world, indicating the pristine nature of the Great Barrier Reef at the present time. Concentrations significantly above detection levels were found at only two sites, Lizard Island First Beach (anthracene, 3.2 ..mu..g/kg; pyrene, 1.4 ..mu..g/kg) and Heron Island Harbour (pyrene, 1.2 ..mu..g/kg; benzo(a)pyrene, 0.02 ..mu..g/kg). Both sites are frequently visited by power boats which are the most likely source of hydrocarbon contamination. These low levels of contamination would not have been demonstrated by the measurement of only the most commonly studied PAH, benzo(a)pyrene. Simultaneous determination of several PAH was necessary to show clearly that some localized pollution had occurred.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- OSTI ID:
- 6811792
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 18:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANTHRACENE
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
AUSTRALIA
WATER POLLUTION
BENZOPYRENE
CHRYSENE
PERYLENE
PYRENE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MOLLUSCS
POLLUTION SOURCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
AUSTRALASIA
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DATA
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560304 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)