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Alkylnaphthalenes: priority pollutants or minor contributors to the poor health of marine mussels?
- Source :
-
Environmental science & technology [Environ Sci Technol] 2011 Jul 15; Vol. 45 (14), pp. 6160-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Jun 24. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Alkylnaphthalenes (AN) are relatively water-soluble hydrocarbons which, following spillages of crude oils, have been widely reported in contaminated marine organisms such as mussels. In the present report we show, by tandem-gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC × GC-ToF-MS), that the range of AN in contaminated wild mussels from the UK extends beyond the previously GC resolved isomers to those with at least seven substituent carbon atoms. Since surprisingly little information on AN toxicity to such marine organisms has been reported we synthesized two C(8) AN and measured the toxicity of C(2-8) AN to mussels (clearance rate assay). C(2-3) AN were appreciably toxic (concentration for 50% clearance rate inhibition, 48 h IC(50) 1.4-2.6 μmol g(-1) dry weight tissue), but several C(4), (6) and C(8) AN, including branched isomers expected to be resistant to biodegradation and more accumulative, were relatively nontoxic (48 h IC(50) > 10 μmol g(-1)) and longer term exposure (8d) failed to elicit a greater toxic response. The accumulation profiles of AN in laboratory mussels exposed to oil were similar to those of the wild mussels. Moreover, laboratory oil-exposed mussels depurated toxic C(2-3) AN within 5 days in clean water and clearance rates recovered. The latter might imply that, in contrast with branched alkyl benzenes tested previously, AN are of less toxic concern, but such a straightforward conclusion cannot necessarily be drawn; a synthetic branched C(8) AN persisted following depuration and was as toxic to mussels as a C(3) AN (IC(50) 1.3 μmol g(-1)). This indicates that the structures of AN are also important.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Bivalvia drug effects
England
Environmental Pollutants toxicity
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Inhibitory Concentration 50
Molecular Structure
Naphthalenes chemistry
Naphthalenes toxicity
Time Factors
Bivalvia metabolism
Environmental Pollutants analysis
Naphthalenes analysis
Petroleum analysis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1520-5851
- Volume :
- 45
- Issue :
- 14
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Environmental science & technology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21671574
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/es201234a