title: Photo-enhanced toxicity of two weathered Macondo crude oils to early life stages of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica).
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been reported to absorb ultraviolet (UV) light, resulting in enhanced toxicity. Early developmental stages of bivalves may be particularly susceptible to photo-enhanced toxicity during oil spills. In the current study, toxicity tests were conducted with sperm and three larval ages of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) to evaluate the photo-enhanced toxicity of low-energy water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of two weathered Macondo crude oils collected from the Deepwater Horizon incident. Larvae exposed to oil WAFs under UV-filtered light demonstrated consistently higher survival and normal development than larvae exposed to WAFs under UV light. The phototoxicity of weathered Macondo oil increased as a function of increasing UV light intensity and dose. Early developing oyster larvae were the most sensitive to photo-enhanced toxicity, whereas later shelled prodissoconch larvae were insensitive. Comparisons between two weathered crude oils demonstrated that toxicity was dependent on phototoxic PAH concentration and UV light intensity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 ALS Building, Corvallis, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Bryson E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.affiliation: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Stefansson
authors.affiliation: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Langdon
authors.affiliation: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pargee
authors.affiliation: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Susanna M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Blunt
authors.affiliation: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 ALS Building, Corvallis, OR, USA. Electronic address: Bill.Stubblefield@oregonstate.edu.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Stubblefield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D060851:Gulf of America; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Deepwater Horizon; Macondo crude oil; Oysters; Phototoxicity; UV light