Hydrocarbon levels in sediments and bivalve mollusks from Bahía Nueva (Patagonia, Argentina): An assessment of probable origin and bioaccumulation factors

Abstract

Effects of crude oil and its derived products on marine ecosystems are well known. Both aliphatic and aromatic fractions possess toxic properties that can affect marine organisms. Particularly, sixteen unsubstituted PAHs have been recognized as priority pollutants for the Word Health Organization, the Economic European Community, and the USA Environmental Protection Agency (Hellow et al., 1994). Many PAHs have been found to be carcinogenic in mammals and, consequently, there is concern over the mobilization of PAHs and their metabolites into marine food chains via bioaccumulation and trophic transfer from benthic fauna (Ferguson and Chandler, 1998).