Nn. Menon et Nr. Menon, Uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from suspended oil borne sediments by the marine bivalve Sunetta scripta, AQUAT TOX, 45(1), 1999, pp. 63-69
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) associated with bottom sediments, ca
n get dissociated into the surrounding water in dissolved or particulate fo
rm, the latter by way of resuspension also, Benthic organisms ingesting sed
iment particles accumulate PAH leading to high body burdens and thus functi
on as a link to transport those contaminants in the food webs. The effects
of PAH contaminated particles on the rate of accumulation of PAH by the fil
ter/suspension feeding benthic bivalve Sunetta scripta (Linne) was investig
ated. The PAH content of the sediment, water and bivalves in two different
experimental procedures viz., a setup with sediments retained in suspension
and another with sediments in an undisturbed facet were determined for a p
eriod of 10 days under controlled laboratory conditions. Bioaccumulation wa
s higher in clams exposed to sediments in suspension (whole tissue load - 2
1.49 mu g g(-1) wet wt.) than those exposed to undisturbed sediment (whole
tissue load 13.35 mu g g(-1) wet wt). It was found out that keeping the sed
iments in suspension resulted in increased PAH content in the surrounding w
ater. The results proved that bioavailability of PAH to suspension feeding
bivalves will be enhanced should they inhabit such environmental situations
. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.