Distribution of organic microcontaminants, butyltins, and metals in mussels from the Estuary of Bilbao.
Mussels are used as bioindicators of chemical pollution in coastal and estuarine waters. We measured the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalate esters (PEs), butyltins, and metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in mussel tissues collected from the lower Bilbao estuary (Arriluze, north of Spain) every 2 months from November 2002 to March 2004. The concentration (microg g(-1) dry weight) of PAHs, PCBs, and PEs ranged from 5.1 to 18.3, from 0.04 to 0.2, and from 1.5 to 27.6, respectively. Temporal pattern variations, including maximum and minimum values, were determined for metals and BTs from their concentration profiles during a period of 1 year. The main feature of organic microcontaminants was relatively high concentration values, reflecting the overall industrial and harbour activities of the site. Moreover, the ratios of methylated species and certain other diagnostic ratios suggested a petrogenic origin for PAHs. Finally, the relations among the concentrations found in mussel tissues and the levels of several cell biomarkers were established by a partial least squares model.
Bartolomé
Luis
L
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, 48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. luis.bartolome@ehu.es
Etxebarria
Nestor
N
Martínez-Arkarazo
Irantzu
I
Raposo
Juan Carlos
JC
Usobiaga
Aresatz
A
Zuloaga
Olatz
O
Raingeard
Damien
D
Ortiz-Zarragoitia
Maren
M
Cajaraville
Miren P
MP
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008670:Metals; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls