Bioaccumulation of organophosphorus flame retardants in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2022-01, Vol.805, p.150384-150384, Article 150384
• Main Authors: Mata, M.C., Castro, V., Quintana, J.B., Rodil, R., Beiras, R., Vidal-Liñán, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Kinetics; Kow; MSPD; OPFRs
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150384

The bioaccumulation and depuration of seven organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were studied. OPFRs showed to be bioavailable in aquatic environments. When mussels are exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of OPFRs, uptake kinetics fit well to a first-order model with a single compartment; in contrast depuration rates were generally underestimated by that model, most likely because it does not take into account the biotransformation of OPFRs by the organisms. The highest bioaccumulation rates were observed for tricresyl phosphate (TCrP), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) and 2-ethylhexyldiphenylphosphate (EHDPP). This could be due to the presence of aryl groups in these compounds, their low solubility in water, and their affinity for fat tissues. According to these findings TCrP, with a BCF value of 4042 L kg−1 wet weight, should be classified in environmental regulations as an accumulative chemical. [Display omitted] •Bioaccumulation of 7 OPFRs in mussels at environmentally relevant concentrations was studied.•OPFRs with aryl groups showed the highest BCF values.•The log BCF was a linear direct function of log Kow and inverse function of log S.•The tricresyl phosphate can be classified as an accumulative chemical.