The accumulation of organochlorines (OCs) in mussel tissue depends on the physiological and biochemical status of the organism and its interaction with the environment. Mytilus galloprovincialis, 2- ...and 1-year-old mussels, sampled from Mali Ston Bay, a reference area, and transplanted to Kaštela Bay in cages, were used for the assessment of OC levels and influence of biological parameters on accumulation. Results of bimonthly exposures during one year highlighted that OC accumulation decreases with increasing mussel age. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p′-DDTs) increased, while organochlorine pesticide (OCP; i.e., HCB, lindane, heptachlor, and aldrin) variations were very low. Statistical analysis generally did not confirm the significant effect of lipid content on the accumulation of OCs in mussel tissue. OC levels in mussels were below the maximum permitted levels for human consumption (European Commission).
The biological response of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, resident and transplanted to cages, to contamination with anthropogenic pollutants from Kaštela Bay, located in the central part of the ...eastern Adriatic coast, was investigated. The main purpose of this paper is to trace the accumulation of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides (HCB, lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, p,p′-DDTs) as a direct measure of potential contaminant availability to organisms, in a period from 2000 to 2011. In order to do so, cultured mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) of the same size and age were transplanted from the unpolluted Mali Ston Bay to the Kaštela Bay. Sampling was performed bimonthly, and the level of target contaminants in whole soft tissue was determined. After two months of exposure, the concentration of PCBs in transplanted mussels increased on average 6.5-times, and of DDTs 2-times, while the intensity of changes for HCB, lindane, heptachlor and aldrin was negligible. Seasonal variation of pesticide content was similar without a significant change throughout the experimental period, while that of PCBs was somewhat different showing increased accumulation in summer. Seasonal and spatial variation of organochlorines in the Kaštela Bay was likely the result of prevailing environmental rather than biological parameters. In accordance with prevailing hydrodynamic cycling, contaminant concentration decreased in acyclonic direction towards the exit of the Bay. Measurement of target contaminants in resident mussels sampled from the most contaminated area of the Bay exhibited decreasing concentrations of lindane, aldrin and p,p′-DDTs. However, PCBs exhibited statistically significant increasing concentrations in relation to the slightly increasing concentrations of HCB. With regard to human health, organochlorine (OC) levels in the mussel tissue were below prescribed limits for human consumption.
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•Transplanted mussels (2 months exposure), PCBs increased 6.5-times and DDTs 2-times•Resident mussels – decreasing concentrations of lindane, aldrin and p,p'-DDTs•Contaminat levels do not exhibit risk for consumers•Kaštela Bay, low contaminated – CPs, moderately contaminated – PCBs
Polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and trace metals were determined in tissues of bivalve molluscs (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Ostrea edulis, Venus verrucosa, Arca noae and Callista ...chione), collected from 11 harvesting and 2 cultured locations along the eastern Adriatic coast, in May and November 2012. Concentrations (ng g−1 dry weight) of organochlorines ranged from 1.53 to 21.1 for PCBs and 0.68 to 5.21 for p,p'-DDTs. HCB, lindane, heptachlor and aldrin-like compounds were found in lower levels or were not detected. Metal concentrations (mg kg−1 dry weight) ranged from 0.23 to 4.03 for Cd, 0.87–3.43 for Cr, 3.69–202.3 for Cu, 0.06–0.26 for HgT, 0.62–9.42 for Ni, 0.95–4.64 for Pb, and 55.76–4010.3 for Zn. Established organochlorine and trace metal levels were lower than the maximum allowable levels in seafood set by the European Commission.
•PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and trace metals were determined in bivalves.•Spatial and seasonal distribution was dependent on the origin of contaminants.•No significant differences in organic contaminant levels were found among species.•Significant differences in Cu and Zn levels were found among species.•Contaminant levels pose no harmful risk to bivalve consumers.
The MYTIAD project focused on the assessment of chemical contamination (metals, PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides) in the Adriatic coastal waters by active mussel watching. Its purpose was ...harmonising and standardising strategies and methodologies used to assess the contamination status of the Adriatic Sea, in the framework of the WFD, the MSFD and UNEP/MAP Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme. Data on metals pointed out some hotspots along the eastern and western Adriatic Sea coasts, with the highest values of total PAH concentration detected in Split, Trieste, and Taranto (Ionian Sea). PCB and endrin contamination was higher in the Adriatic Sea than in the western Mediterranean Sea. This is the first comprehensive overview of contamination in the Adriatic Sea with critical comparisons of related studies over the Mediterranean Sea. It provides a useful harmonised dataset to support a coordinated definition of baselines, targets and thresholds, and further management of chemical contamination.
•Results provide a harmonised dataset to support the coordinated management of chemical contamination in the Adriatic Sea.•Concentrations of metals (Hg, Cd, Ni and Pb) are lower in the Adriatic Sea than in the Western Mediterranean Sea.•PCB, DDTs and endrin are higher than in the Western Mediterranean Sea.•PAHs are mostly of mixed origin, pyrogenic and petrogenic.
A battery of cell-based bioassays, including PLHC-1 cells, zebrafish-Pxr-transfected COS-7 cells and estrogen receptor-recombinant yeast assay (ER-RYA), were applied to detect the presence of ...bioactive pollutants in sediments collected from Kaštela Bay and Brač Channel (Croatia). Exposure of PLHC-1 cells to the sediment extracts evidenced significant cytotoxicity and presence of CYP1A inducers in sediments collected in Kaštela Bay, near the industrial zone and cargo port of Split. Sediments from this area, which is highly contaminated with PCBs, HCB, DDTs and γ-HCH, also activated the zebrafish Pxr (zfPxr) reporter system. No evidence of estrogenicity was detected for any of the sediments extracts in the ER-RYA assay. Importantly, the battery of in vitro assays identified Kaštela Bay as the area with the higher anthropogenic impact, where sediment-bound pollutants could pose a risk to aquatic organisms. In contrast, sediments from the Brač Channel showed rather low response in the different bioassays.
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•Multiple cell-based bioassays were used to assess quality of coastal sediments.•Multiple endpoints (cytotoxicity, EROD activity, ER-RYA) were determined.•Ligand activation of zfPxr by sediments extracts was detected.•Sediments with the poorest environmental quality detected in Kaštela Bay.
This paper examines oceanographic properties along the northern portion of the Palagruža Sill, middle Adriatic Sea, from 1998 to 2011. Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total inorganic ...nitrogen (TIN) and orthophosphate concentrations were collected at four stations on a seasonal basis and monthly basis, spanning from coastal waters to the deepest part of the sill. Seasonal profiles and variances were computed, exhibiting no strong seasonal variability in either coastal or open Adriatic waters, except for temperature. The transect profiles were analysed using the Self-Organising Maps (SOM) method, which extracted two regimes with several transitional patterns characterized by an anomaly in one or more variables. These regimes match the Bimodal Adriatic-Ionian Oscillation (BiOS) regimes in the northern Ionian Sea, which are found to drive decadal oscillations in oceanographic parameters in the Adriatic. As the transect mainly encompasses the euphotic zone, no strong connection was found between BiOS regimes and DO, TIN and orthophosphate concentrations. This suggests that, in addition to basin-wide circulation, other physical and biogeochemical processes are more important for nutrient dynamics in the euphotic zone. The use of the SOM method in ocean coastal studies is discussed.
•Self-Organizing Maps method have been applied to the physical and chemical data.•Decadal oscillations dominated in characteristic patterns.•No connection has been found between decedal variability and chemical parameters.•The use of SOM method in ocean coastal studies is discussed.
Monitoring of chlorinated pesticides and PCBs, using mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis as indicator species, was performed during the 2002-2006 period along the eastern Adriatic coast. The general ...pattern of chlorinated hydrocarbons distribution was characterized by higher PCBs concentrations in relation to chlorinated pesticides, reflecting the prevailing influence of industrial sources of contamination over the agricultural ones. The mean value and concentration range for PCBs was 40 (5.6-103) ng/g dw compared with DDTs values 9.7 (2.3-25.1) ng/g dw. Much lower mean values were obtained for HCB, lindane, aldrin and dieldrin (0,15; 0.22; 0.70 and 0.65 ng/g dw), respectively. Regarding spatial distribution, elevated contaminant concentration was found in mussels collected from the areas that are densely populated and/or industrially developed. Analysis of national temporal trends indicated that chlorinated hydrocarbons particularly pesticides are decreasing in concentrations. The comparison of the obtained data with those published for worldwide locations showed a low level of contamination of the study area. Moreover, all established concentrations were far below the maximum permissible levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons in mussels for human consumption, prescribed by the Croatian legislation.
The distribution of six PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 118, 138 and 153) was investigated in surface sediments (0-2 cm) from the coastal waters of the Middle and South Adriatic. The lowest concentration ...was found at the "offshore" reference station Stoncica, indicating the absence of an anthropogenic influence at the investigated area. The highest concentration was obtained at the area of the Kastela Bay (Split), as the result of long-term urban and industrial wastewater discharges. The most abundant higher-chlorinated congeners PCB 138 and PCB 153 were present at higher concentrations in the entire investigated area than the lower-chlorinated ones. The obtained results showed that the PCB levels in the sediments depend primarily on local pollution sources and environmental characteristics, as well as on the geochemical characteristics of the sediment.
An evaluation of the contamination level of the Kastela Bay by chlorinated hydrocarbons was performed using transplanted mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from a clean area. The obtained results ...show a significant increase of chlorinated hydrocarbon concentration in the transplanted mussels, indicating the contamination of the bay. The average concentration of DDTs increased from 2.9 to 6.0 ng g super(-1) dry wt, while the PCBs increased from 13.5 to 59.3 ng g super(-1) dry wt. The spatial distribution of DDTs is quite uniform, without significant temporal changes, while the PCBs show significant spatial and temporal changes. This is related to different sources of contamination. Considering the fat content in mussels, the PCB concentrations expressed on a dry weight basis increased with an increase in the fat content, while DDTs show insignificant relation to the fat content. However, expressed on a fat basis, PCBs and DDTs are significantly (negatively) related to fat concentration.
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