ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to evaluate the distribution and origin of 16 Priority PAHs in surficial sediment samples of Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, Brazil). Total PAHs concentrations ranged from below the method detection limit (Subject(s)
Geologic Sediments/analysis
, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis
, Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
, Bays
, Brazil
, Coal
, Environmental Monitoring
, Fossil Fuels
, Geologic Sediments/chemistry
, Multivariate Analysis
ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the PAH bioavailability from Santos Bay (Brazil) in 4 species of fish, using PAH biliary metabolites. The collection was done monthly, between July and December, in three different regions of Santos Bay. The metabolites were analyzed through a high performance liquid chromatograph with fluorescence detectors. Total metabolites concentrations ranged from 65.5 to 589µgg-1 of bile, evidencing PAH bioavailability on Santos Bay. Levels of phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene metabolites were in the classification range of areas moderate contaminated. Those concentrations were lower in Nebris microps and higher in Sphoeroides testudineus (p<0.05). Naphthalene metabolites concentrations did not differ significantly among fish species and were in the classification range of low contaminated areas. There were no significant spatial and temporal differences in levels among sampled areas. These results are environmentally important given the high levels of urbanization and the absence of biomonitoring data in this area.
Subject(s)
Bays/chemistry , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Fishes/metabolism , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Animals , Bile/chemistry , Biological Availability , Brazil , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/metabolism , Species Specificity , Urbanization , Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolismABSTRACT
This work aimed to evaluate the use of Mugil curema as a biomonitor for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bioavailability. Fish biliary metabolites from low-contaminated (Cananéia) and contaminated (Santos) Brazilian estuaries were analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography apparatus coupled to fluorescence detectors connected in a series. In the Cananéia and Santos estuaries, total metabolite levels ranged from 0.85 to 34.4µgg-1 of bile and from 4.06 to 528µgg-1 of bile, respectively. Metabolite levels were not influenced by feeding status or sexual hormones (p<0.05), thus suggesting that M. curema is a good biomonitor for PAH bioavailability. In estuarine regions, it is possible to sample both the male and female genders of this species in any reproductive period.