Aquatic chemistry is becoming both a rewarding and substantial area of inquiry and is drawing many prominent scientists to its fold. Its literature has changed from a compilation of compositional tables to studies of the chemical reactions occurring within the aquatic environments. But more than this is the recognition that human society in part is determining the nature of aquatic systems. Since rivers deliver to the world ocean most of its dissolved and particulate components, the interactions of these two sets of waters determine the vitality of our coastal waters. This significant vol ume provides not only an introduction to the dynamics of aquatic chem istries but also identifies those materials that jeopardize the resources of both the marine and fluvial domains. Its very title provides its emphasis but clearly not its breadth in considering natural processes. The book will be of great value to those environmental scientists who are dedicated to keeping the resources of the hydrosphere renewable. As the size of the world population becomes larger in the near future and as the uses of materials and energy show parallel increases, the rivers and oceans must be considered as a resource to accept some of the wastes of society. The ability of these waters and the sediments below them to accommodate wastes must be assessed continually. The key questions relate to the capacities of aqueous systems to carry one or more pollutants."

Metal pollution in the aquatic environment

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) appear in most urbanized coastal areas of the world, accumulating in sediments and biota that are unable to efficiently eliminate them. This review focuses specifically on the mechanisms of bioavailability, uptake, and elimination, which determine the extent of accumulation and retention of PAHs in invertebrates and fish in marine ecosystems. We review here the literature on the mechanisms and factors that control these processes which ultimately determine the concentration of PAHs in marine organisms. Understanding both the temporal and spatial characteristics of bioaccumulation of the environmentally important PAHs is crucial for determining the impact that this class of compounds may have on marine populations. To provide a complete assessment of these potential impacts, scientists require knowledge about the distribution of these compounds in different environmental matrices, their uptake and partitioning in different tissues, their rates of elimination, and their potential for persistence in certain species. The combined information on these mechanisms and the environmental factors that control accumulation will help scientists develop predictive models of contaminant accumulation both for acute events, such as oil spills, and for long-term, chronic exposure as is found in many urban areas in our coastal ecosystems.

Bioaccumulation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Marine Organisms

Studies of tissue metal concentrations in shellfish have progressed along two major lines: first, to record the range of concentrations within commercial species, a response to the need to identify potentially hazardous levels from a human nutritional standpoint; and second, to compare concentrations within a single species on a geographical basis as a framework for an environmental monitoring programme. Body size is a parameter which can influence tissue metal concentrations, and if significant variations due to size do occur, then clearly it is a factor which should be taken into consideration within these contexts.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002531540002511X

Effect of size upon metal content of shellfish

List of Contributors.Series Foreword.Part I: Introduction and Rationale.Introduction (P. Douben).Part II: General Characteristics of PAHs.The Sources, Transport, and Fate of PAHs in the Marine Environment (J. Latimer and J. Zheng).Geochemistry of PAHs in Aquatic Environments: Source, Persistence and Distribution (R. Burgess, et al.).Photochemical Reactions of PAHs in the Atmosphere (J. Arey and R. Atkinson).Metabolic Activation of PAHs: Role of DNA Adduct Formation in Induced Carcinogenesis (F. Akcha, et al.).Biodegradation and General Aspects of Bioavailability (F. Volkering and A. Breure).Part III Bioavailability, Exposure and Effects in Environmental Compartments.An Overview of the Partitioning and Bioavailability of PAHs in Sediments and Soils (R. Burgess, et al.).Bioavailability, Uptake and Effects of PAHs in Aquatic Invertebrates in Field Studies (P. den Besten, et al.).Bioaccumulation of PAHs in Marine Invertebrates (J. Meador).Uptake and Accumulation of PAHs by Terrestrial Invertebrates (R. Achazi and C. Van Gestel).Ecotoxicological Studies Focusing on Marine and Freshwater Fish (J. Payne, et al.).Effects of PAHs on Terrestrial and Freshwater Birds, Mammals and Amphibians (H. Malcolm & R. Shore).Effects of PAHs on Marine Birds, Mammals and Reptiles (P. Albers and T. Loughlin).PAH Interactions with Plants: Uptake, Toxicity and Phytoremediation (B. Greenberg).Assessing Risks from Photoactivated Toxicity of PAHs to Aquatic Organisms (G. Ankley, et al.).Biomarkers and PAHs - Prospects for the Assessment of Exposure and Effects in Aquatic Systems (R. Altenburger, et al.).Part IV Integration of Information on PAHs.Approaches to Developing Sediment Quality Guidelines for PAHs (D. Mount, et al.).Managing Risks from PAHs (G. Whale, et al.).Index.

PAHs : an ecotoxicological perspective

Tens of thousands of synthetic substances are in existence today and hundreds of new compounds are being introduced every year. Because of the complexity of the physico-chemical interactions between pollutants and the marine environment, the potential toxicity of contaminants can be assessed adequately only by means of bioassays with living organisms. From a practical point of view, a bioassay needs to be sensitive and scientifically valid, yield rapid results at moderate cost, and the organism in question must be readily available.

Ecotoxicological bioassays with bivalve embryos and larvae fulfil these criteria better than most other tests. They have increasingly come into use during the past three decades and are now commonly employed to ascertain the biological effects of pure chemicals, as well as to determine the quality of effluents, coastal waters and sediments sampled in the field. There do not appear to be very great differences between bivalve species with regard to larval sensitivity to toxicants. The principal species for bioassays are oysters (Crassostrea gigas and C. virginica), and mussels (Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis).

Bioassays are conducted with gametes and larvae of ail ages: sperm and unfertilized eggs, embryos, young D-larvae, intermediate umboned larvae, and pediveligers towards the end ofthe pelagic period. Embryos are usually the most sensitive stage. Recent advances now also permit bioassays on metamorphosing pediveligers, a method particularly suited to investigate the effects of adsorbate-contaminated surfaces. There are various criteria for the assessment oftoxic effects, including embryogenesis success (abnormalities), larval growth, mortality, physiology (e.g. feeding or swimming activity), and metamorphosis success.

Chronic toxicity studies may be carried out over periods ofseveral weeks, but larval rearing in the laboratory requires considerable effort (e.g. cultivation of algal food). The method of choice for investigations of acute toxicity and for routine monitoring studies is the embryo bioassay because it is very sensitive, relatively simple, and produces results within 24 or 48 hours. The data obtained by different investigators are often difficult to compare, however, because of differences in methodology. There is no firmly established procedure, and further simplification and standardization of techniques is required.

In bioassays with a single pollutant, the effective toxic concentration may span several orders of magnitude, depending on bioassay procedures, larval stage and choice of response. Tributyl-tin (TBT) is the most toxic compound ever bioassayed with bivalve larvae, with effective concentrations (EC50) as low as a few nanograms per litre (i.e. 10−3 ppb). Heavy metals (particularly mercury, silver and copper) are next in order of toxicity, with EC50 values between a few micrograms per litre (ppb) and several hundred ppb. Chlorine and some organochlorine pesticides may also have EC50 values of less than 100 ppb, while detergents and petroleum products are generally less toxic

The Assessment of Marine Pollution - Bioassays with Bivalve Embryos and Larvae

Utilizing metal concentration relationships in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) to detect heavy metal pollution

Effects of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons on fishes and shellfish: An overview of research in virginia

Two flowing water systems designed to test the acute toxicity of chlorine in estuarine water are described, one adapted for microscopic species, the other for larger species. Acute toxicity results...

Michael E. Bender

Papers

Utilizing metal concentration relationships in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) to detect heavy metal pollution

Effects of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons on fishes and shellfish: An overview of research in virginia

Acute Toxicity of Chlorine to Selected Estuarine Species

Unavailability of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons from coal particles to the eastern oyster.

Uptake, distribution, metabolism and clearance of chlordecone by channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)