Karsten H. Palmork

Dissolved/dispersed Hydrocarbons, Tarballs and the Surface Microlayer: Experiences from an IOC/UNEP Workshop in Bermuda, December, 1984

Abstract An intercomparison exercise was conducted at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc, Bermuda on 1–15 December 1984. It primarily involved the testing of the IOC Manual for monitoring oil and dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons (DDPH) in marine waters and on beaches (IOC, Manuals and Guides, No. 13). An additional exercise sought to intercompare methodologies for the collection of sea surface microlayer samples. DDPH measurements in the inshore waters of Bermuda resulted in a mean concentration of 0.057 μg l−1 of (n = 30) chrysene equivalents with a 60% relative standard deviation (RSD). Open ocean samples yielded a mean concentration of 0.011 μg l−1 (n = 44) with a 65% RSD. These concentrations are extremely low and the results indicate that the method described in the Manual is sufficiently sensitive for the detection of ‘hot spots’ The collection of beach tar using the method outlined in the Manual indicated that the data, when expresed as per metre of linear beach length, are an extremely good measure of oil contamination. The mean of 42 collections was 23.1 ± 14.4 g m−1 in the first sampling period and the mean of 39 transects was 40.6 ± 17.7 g m−1 on the second sampling period. Although 14 individuals took part in the sampling the results of individuals were consistent enough to demonstrate that beach tar collections are indeed valuable tools for monitoring contamination by petroleum in the marine environment. The operational manual for the sampling of the sea surface microlayer (IOC Manuals and Guides, No. 15), was also tested. The results indicated that this method collects reproduceable volumes of elevated concentrations of materials from the sea surface suitable at least for qualitative analyses. However, the spatial distribution and stability of surface films may render quantitative analyses less meaningful.

Metabolism of phenantherene in various marine animals

Abstract 1. Flounder ( Platichthys flesus ), rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri ), spiny dogfish ( Squalus acanthias ), and Norway lobster ( Nephrops norvegicus ) were force-fed with phenanthrene. 2. The metabolites of phenanthrene in different tissues were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 3. The main metabolite in bony fish was 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxyphenanthrene, whereas 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-phenanthrene was the main metabolite in Norway lobster and spiny dogfish. 4. The bony fishes were found to contain the highest amounts of metabolites. Unchanged phenanthrene was the most prominent compound in the green gland of Norway lobster.

Distribution of radioactivity in the chondrichthyesSqualus acanthias and the osteichthyesSalmo gairdneri following intragastric administration of (9-14C)phenanthrene

The fate of polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH) in marine animals has received increasing attention in the last decade. The present studies dealing with spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) are part of a series of experiments with different marine organisms. All the experiments were performed under the same laboratory conditions using intragastric administration of the PAH-component, /sup 14/C-labelled phenanthrene. Thus it is possible to compare species differences of disposition of PAH in various marine organisms. The most pronounced differences in the disposition of phenanthrene between bony fish and cartilaginous fish in our studies are that the maximum value of radioactivity in the liver of cartilaginous fish occurred several days later than the corresponding value in bony fish. Furthermore, the radioactivity in cartilaginous fish was retained at a high level beyond 672 h (28 days), a time at which the radioactivity in bony fish is near the background values.

Accumulation and elimination of [9-14C]phenanthrene in the calico clam (Macrocallista maculata)

The accumulation and elimination of radoactivity is studied after exposure of (9-/sup 14/C) phenanthrene in various tissues in the calico clam (Macrocallista maculata). Results show that accumulation is highest in the lipid-rich hepatopancreas, and the elimination is very efficient compared to the horse mussel. The calico clam, which is a sand-dwelling organism, can easily come in contact with hydrocarbon contaminated sedments and might accumulate the hydrocarbons at different extents in various tissues. The efficient elimination, however, will prevent a lasting accumulation. (JMT)

A flowthrough biotest system for continuous exposure of aquatic organisms to oil hydrocarbons

Abstract A biotest system for continuous exposure of aquatic organisms to the water soluble fraction of oil hydrocarbons is described. A stock solution was prepared in a separate tank, diluted with clean sea water to appropriate test concentrations, and continuously transferred to the exposure aquaria. The system was cleaned every week to avoid bacterial contamination. The hydrocarbon levels of aquaria and stock solution correlated with a coefficient of 0.96. Due evaporation, however, on the way from the stock solution tank to the aquaria, the oil concentration of the aquaria were 40–60 % lower than expected from the dilution ratios. The test solutions also contained traceable amounts of polar components which probably were oxidized compounds of oil hydrocarbon origin. These compounds could be of importance for the evaluation of eventual effects on test organisms.

Uptake and elimination of [9-14C]phenanthrene in the turkey wing mussel (Arca zebra)

Turkey wing mussels of both sexes were collected from Harrington Sound, Bermuda and dosed after a week-long acclimation period with (9-/sup 14/C)phenanthrene (714 MBq/mmol). They were transferred into 8 liters of seawater containing 8 ..mu..g of labelled phenanthrene. Results show that the accumulation of labelled phenanthrene in the turkey wing mussel was very low compared to that found in other species. In the hepatopancreas, the uptake of phenanthrene based on the water concentration was only 4% of the corresponding value found in the calico clam (Macrocallista maculata) inhabiting the same area. In comparison, the uptake of phenanthrene in a temperate mollusc such as the horse mussel (Modiola modiolus) was also considerably higher than in the turkey wing (approx. 4 times). It therefore seems likely that these are due to species variations rather than environmental variations between subtropical and temperate areas. (JMT)