Quantitative biomonitoring of PAHs using the Barnes mussel (Elliptio complanata)

The elimination rate constants (k(2)) of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were examined for the freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata. The concentrations of fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[ a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[ b]fluoranthene, and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene revealed a significant inverse relationship with time and their k(2) values ranged from 0.10 to 0.22 day(-1). The k(2) values of these significantly cleared PAHs were similar to k(2) values observed for nonmetabolized organochlorines in mussels previously reported in the literature. The inverse relationship between k(2) and K(ow) provides evidence that the nine PAHs were being passively eliminated from the mussels and that they can be used to calibrate the mussel as a quantitative biomonitor. A general expression relating elimination rate constants and chemical K(ow) is derived for hydrophobic contaminants in E. complanata. The k(2) versus log K(ow) regression equation for mussels developed herein was similar to other studies documenting the elimination of PCBs and PAHs in a number of bivalve species.