Chee Kong Yap

Spatial distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in green mussels (Perna viridis) from coastal areas of Peninsular Malaysia: implications for source identification of perylene

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined in green mussels (Perna viridis) from various sites in coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia between August 2004 and January 2007, in order to assess contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons. The range of ∑PAHs detected in mussels was from 766 to 110500 (ng/g lipid wt.). High concentrations of PAHs were found in mussel tissues collected near Penang Bridge. The ratios of methyl phenanthrenes to phenanthrene (∑MP/P ratio) for Penang, Kg. Pasir Puteh and Tebing Runtuh (Johore Straits) were greater than 2, indicating extensive input of petrogenic PAHs. The results indicated that male individuals elevated more considerable concentrations of PAHs in their soft tissues in comparison to female individuals. The results of independent sample T-test showed that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between male and female mussels analysed in the Pasir Panjang station. Negative significant correlations (r = −0.890, p < 0.01) and (r = −0.0655, p < 0.05), were found between weight and total of PAHs in female and male species, respectively. This indicated that body weight of each individual was not affected by the PAHs concentrations. The present study proposes the use of soft tissue of Perna viridis as a biomonitor of perylene bioavailability and contamination in coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia.

First report of bioaccumulation and bioconcentration of aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs) and persistent organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs and PCNs) and their effects on alcyonacea and scleractinian corals and their endosymbiotic algae from the Persian Gulf, Iran: Inter and intra-species differences

The coral reefs of the Persian Gulf are the most diverse systems of life in the marine environment of the Middle East. Unfortunately, they are highly threatened by local and global stressors, particularly oil pollutants. This is the first quantitative and qualitative study aimed at assessing the concentration and sources of n-alkanes and POPs (PAHs, PCBs and PCNs) in coral tissues, symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), reef sediments and seawaters in coral reefs of Lark and Kharg in the Persian Gulf, Iran. This work was conducted on eight species of six genera and three families of hard corals and one family of soft coral. A significant variation in the concentration of ∑30n-alkanes and POPs (∑40PAHs, ∑22PCBs and 20PCNs) was found in the decreasing order: zooxanthellaeu202f>u202fcoral tissueu202f>u202fskeletonu202f>u202freef sedimentu202f>u202fseawater. The bioaccumulation of these compounds was 2-times higher in ahermatypic than in hermatypic corals, among which significant variations were observed in both sites. In Kharg, Porites lutea had the highest mean concentration of ∑30n-alkanes and ∑40PAHs in soft tissue, whereas the lowest values were in Platygyra daedalea. A contrasting trend was documented for ∑22PCBs and 20PCNs, with the highest level reported in soft tissue of P. daedalea and the lowest in P. lutea at Kharg. Compositional pattern of AHs and PAHs demonstrated the predominance of LMW-PAHs and n-alkanes. In skeleton and reef sediments, tetra, penta and tri-CBs were the most abundant PCBs congeners followed by di-CBu202f>u202fhexa-CBu202f>u202fhepta-CBu202f>u202focta-CB,whiletri-CBu202f>u202fdi-CBu202f>u202ftetra-CBu202f>u202fpenta-CBu202f>u202fhexa-CBu202f>u202fhepta-CBu202f>u202focta-CB was observed for soft tissue, zooxanthellae and seawater. The results of RAD test indicated significantly negative correlation between total concentration of these compounds with zooxanthellae density, the chlorophyll-a and C2 in corals at both reefs. This is the first report on levels, health assessment and source apportionments of POPs in zooxanthellae and a first step in the implementation of specific coral reef management measures.