title: Distribution of organic microcontaminants, butyltins, and metals in mussels from the Estuary of Bilbao.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, 48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. luis.bartolome@ehu.es
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartolomé
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etxebarria
authors.forename: Irantzu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez-Arkarazo
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Raposo
authors.forename: Aresatz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usobiaga
authors.forename: Olatz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zuloaga
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raingeard
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Zarragoitia
authors.forename: Miren P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cajaraville
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008670:Metals; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls