Bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the North Sea

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es9804215· OSTI ID:6334195

Utvik, T I.R. ^[1]; Johnsen, S ^[2]

---

1. Norsk Hydro E and P Operations, Bergen (Norway). Environmental Section
2. Statoil R and D Centre, Trondheim (Norway)

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) were used to determine the bioavailable fraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from oil field produced water in the North Sea. The SPMDs and mussels were deployed at 5, 10, and 50 m depth; 100 and 300 m downstream the discharge point; and at a reference site 16 km away. In both SPMDs and mussels, the concentration of PAHs increased significantly toward the discharge point, with the strongest contribution from the lower molecular weight compounds (naphthalene, phenanthrene, dibenzothiophene, and their C1-C3 alkyl homologues). The relative increase in PAH concentration from the reference site to the site at 100 m was higher for mussels than for the SPMDs. The SPMDs reflect the water-soluble fraction of the PAHs, which is probably the most important route of exposure for organisms at lower trophic levels and presumably also the fraction available for uptake by a respiratory route. Residues in the mussels represent both the water-soluble and particle-bound fraction and give information about bioavailability of the PAHs for organisms at higher trophic levels. The results of this study suggest that both techniques give important information about the bioavailability of PAHs to marine organisms.

• OSTI ID: 6334195
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 33:12; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
MUSSELS
NORTH SEA
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
HYDROCARBONS
INVERTEBRATES
MOLLUSCS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)