title: Temporal and spatial changes of PAH concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis from Ria de Vigo (NW Spain).
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the temporal trends and spatial distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Ria de Vigo by means of studying the PAH burden in wild mussels. The samples were collected in eight sites along the margins of the Ria de Vigo during November from 1998 to 2008 and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon contents were determined using high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence derivatization (HPLC-FLD). Quality of chemical analysis was guaranteed by participation in QUASIMEME intercalibration exercises carried out during the period of analysis. The concentrations for the sum of 13 PAHs were in the range 24-480 μg/kg dw, typical of an urban and industrialized area (50-500 μg/kg dw) except for a punctual input in La Guía in 1998 that led to a concentration above 1,000 μg/kg dw. In general, the sites in the outermost section of the estuary (ría) showed the lowest values, with an increasing gradient in the medium and inner parts of the ría. Temporal patterns show, in general, a downward trend. The relative proportion of 3 and 4 ring PAHs also varies with the site, the former being predominant in the outermost area and the latter in the medium and inner parts of the ría. This is consistently related with the sources and processes taking place in different areas of the estuary.
authors.affiliation: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, IEO (Instituto Español de Oceanografía), Subida a Radio Faro 50, 36390 Vigo, Spain. lucia.vinas@vi.ieo.es
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viñas
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Xoana
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bargiela
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perez-Fernandez
authors.forename: Juan Jose
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical