Spatial and temporal distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons in wild mussels in Galicia after the Prestige oil spill L. VIÑAS, M.A. FRANCO, J.A. SORIANO and J.J. GONZÁLEZ Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Cabo Estai-Canido Vigo, Spain L. ORTIZ, J.M. BAYONA and J. ALBAIGÉS Department of Environmental Chemistry, CID-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, Barcelona, Spain.
Mussel as a sentinel organism: Concentrate substances over their levels in the environment. The tissue reflects environmental changes. Stay in a single location: Sessile. Fairly resistant to chemical contamination. Abundant along the studied area.
Sampling 24 stations October 2000 pre-spill February months after spill June months after spill
Analytes determined Aliphatic hydrocarbons, with special emphasis on the profiles of fossil markers, such as triterpanes and steranes. Analysed by GC-MS
Analytes determined Aromatic hydrocarbons, 13 parent PAHs. Analysed by HPLC-FLD
General distribution of PAHs
October 2000-February 2003
October 2000-February June 2003
PAH profile Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP MUXÍA Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP BghiP PUNTA INSUA Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP
PAH profile Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BeP BbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP CABO HOME Pyr BaA Pyr BaA Phe Ant Fluo Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Chry BeP BbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP FERROL-PÍAS Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BePBbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP Phe Ant Fluo Pyr BaA Chry BeP BbF BkF BaP BghiP dBahA In123cdP
Isomeric ratios 27Ts: 18 (H)-22,29,30-trisnorneohopane/17 (H)-22,29,30-trisnorhopane %29ab: 17 (H),21 (H)-30-norhopane/17 (H),21 (H)-hopane %29aaS:24-ethyl-14 (H),17 (H)cholestane (20S/20R) %29bb: 24-ethyl-14 (H),17 (H)cholestane (R+S)/24-ethyl-14 (H),17 (H)cholestane(R+S)
Conclusions Two main groups of mussels: affected and not affected by the spill Increase of hydrocarbons in February and subsequent decrease in June.