Occurrence of alkylphenols and bisphenol A in wild mussel samples from the Spanish Atlantic coast and Bay of Biscay

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 106; no. 1-2; pp. 360 - 365
• Main Authors: Salgueiro-González, N., Turnes-Carou, I., Viñas, L., Besada, V., Muniategui-Lorenzo, S., López-Mahía, P., Prada-Rodríguez, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.05.2016
• Subjects: Alkylphenols; Animals; Bay of Biscay; Bays - chemistry; Benzhydryl Compounds - analysis; Bisphenol A; coasts; Endocrine Disruptors - analysis; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Environmental Monitoring - methods; liquid chromatography; Marine; Mussels; Mytilus - chemistry; Mytilus - drug effects; Mytilus galloprovincialis; Nonylphenol; Phenols - analysis; shipping; Spain; Spanish Atlantic coast; tandem mass spectrometry; Waste Water - analysis; wastewater treatment; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; water pollution; Bay of Biscay; ANE, Europe, Biscay Bay; Spanish Atlantic coast; Bisphenol A; Nonylphenol; Bay of Biscay; Mussels; Alkylphenols
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.003

Wild mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were selected as bioindicators of chemical pollution to evaluate the occurrence and spatial distribution of five endocrine disrupting compounds in the Spanish Atlantic coast and Bay of Biscay. A total of 24 samples were collected in May, 2011 and analysed by selective pressurized liquid extraction followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination. Branched alkylphenols (4-tert-octylphenol and nonylphenol) were determined in more than 90% of the analysed samples whereas the presence of linear alkylphenols (4-n-octylphenol and 4-n-nonylphenol) was scarcely detected (<12% of the samples). Wastewater treatment plants discharges and nautical, fishing and shipping activities were considered the primary sources of contamination by alkylphenols. Bisphenol A was found in 16% of the analysed samples associated to punctual industrial discharges. A total endocrine disrupting compound (alkylphenols and bisphenol A) average concentration of 604ngg−1 dw was calculated and nonylphenol was the main contributor in almost all sampling points. [Display omitted] •Occurrence of alkylphenols and bisphenol A in mussels from Spanish coastline•Nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol determined in 90% of the analysed samples•Higher concentrations found in Bay of Biscay than in Spanish Atlantic coast•Wastewater and industrial discharges are the main sources of contamination