Uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from suspended oil borne sediments by the marine bivalve Sunetta scripta

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology 1999-03, Vol.45 (1), p.63-69
• Main Authors: Menon, N.Nandini, Menon, N.R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Clams; Contamination; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH); Sediment load; Sunetta scripta
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/S0166-445X(98)00092-7

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) associated with bottom sediments, can get dissociated into the surrounding water in dissolved or particulate form, the latter by way of resuspension also. Benthic organisms ingesting sediment particles accumulate PAH leading to high body burdens and thus function as a link to transport those contaminants in the food webs. The effects of PAH contaminated particles on the rate of accumulation of PAH by the filter/suspension feeding benthic bivalve Sunetta scripta (Linne) was investigated. The PAH content of the sediment, water and bivalves in two different experimental procedures viz., a setup with sediments retained in suspension and another with sediments in an undisturbed facet were determined for a period of 10 days under controlled laboratory conditions. Bioaccumulation was higher in clams exposed to sediments in suspension (whole tissue load – 21.49 μg g −1 wet wt.) than those exposed to undisturbed sediment (whole tissue load – 13.35 μg g −1 wet wt). It was found out that keeping the sediments in suspension resulted in increased PAH content in the surrounding water. The results proved that bioavailability of PAH to suspension feeding bivalves will be enhanced should they inhabit such environmental situations.