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Alkylphenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in eastern Mediterranean Spanish coastal marine bivalves

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Abstract

This paper reports the first results on alkylphenol pollution in edible bivalves from the Spanish coast. Two sampling campaigns (July 2006 and July 2007) were carried out to determine the concentration of nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wild mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialys) and clams (Donax trunculus) at 14 sampling sites along the eastern Mediterranean Spanish coast. The results show that NP is the predominant alkylphenol, being the port of Valencia the most polluted area (up to 147 μg/kg wet weight in clams). Moving away from the ports the concentration of NP in bivalves decreased. OP concentration was below its detection limit in most of the studied areas and its maximum concentration (6 μg/kg w/w) was measured in clams from the port of Sagunto. The presence of low levels of PAHs was observed in most of the studied areas. The total PAHs concentration (i.e., sum of the eight measured PAHs) achieved a maximum value of 10.09 μg/kg w/w in the north coast of Valencia city. The distribution pattern of the individual PAHs showed that both pollution sources petrogenic and pyrolytic were present in the sampled areas. Fluoranthene was the most abundant PAH in mussels while benzo(b)fluoranthene in clams. The maximum concentration of 10 μg/kg w/w for benzo(a)pyrene established by the European Commission was never reached, indeed sampled bivalves showed concentrations 10 times lower than this reference value. Thus, they can be considered safe for human consumption. Despite the low contamination levels, the results show an overall pollution of bivalves by alkylphenol and PAHs as well as an increment in the number of polluted areas from 2006 to 2007. Thus, periodical sampling campaigns should be carried out to monitor the long-term tendency of these toxic and persistent pollutants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Valencia, Doctor Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain

    Alberto Bouzas, Nuria Martí, José Manuel Pastor & Aurora Seco

  2. Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente (IIAMA), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    Daniel Aguado

  3. Dpto. Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Doctor Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain

    Rosa Herráez & Pilar Campins

Authors
  1. Alberto Bouzas
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  2. Daniel Aguado
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  3. Nuria Martí
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  4. José Manuel Pastor
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  5. Rosa Herráez
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  6. Pilar Campins
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  7. Aurora Seco
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Correspondence to Daniel Aguado.

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Bouzas, A., Aguado, D., Martí, N. et al. Alkylphenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in eastern Mediterranean Spanish coastal marine bivalves. Environ Monit Assess 176, 169–181 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1574-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1574-5

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