Effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on the physiology of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica Gmelin

Abstract

Oysters rapidly accumulated saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons from oil-water dispersions. Aromatic hydrocarbons were accumulated to a greater extent than n-paraffins relative to their respective concentrations in the exposure water. Saturated hydrocarbons were accumulated in higher amounts from crude than from refined oils. When uptake of oil by oysters was measured over a period of several days, the levels of accumulation of oil-derived petroleum hydrocarbons did not consistently increase, following return to oil-free sea water, oysters depurated the saturated chains and most aromatic fractions rapidly. Depuration was nearly completed with in 30 days. Two partially refined oils. Venezuela hunker C and #2 fuel, were found to be more toxic than two crude oils tested, South Louisiana and Kuwait. Oysters demonstrated greater resistance to test oils than to the reference toxin, dodecyl sodium sulfate. Valve closure by oysters made it difficult to determine percent mortality data in 96-hours tatic bioassays with petroleum hydrocarbons. ...