Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) collected from the mid-western coast of Korea

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides was studied in sediment dwelling bivalves, Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), collected from the midwestern coast of Korea. As witnessed by the dominance of tetra- to penta-chlorinated congeners in sediments and the penta- to hexa-chlorinated congener dominance in clams, the profile of PCBs in the sediments and Manila clams differed. Lipid and organic carbon-normalized biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) were determined for organochlorine pesticides. BSAFs of β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) and ΣDDTs were in the range of 0.06~1.36 and 0.31~1.06. No clear relationships were found between BSAFs of ΣDDTs in Manila clams and the concentrations of DDTs in the associated sediment. The accumulated PCBs and organochlorine pesticides were compared in Manila clams and oysters (Crassostrea gigas) collected from 3 sites. Highly chlorinated PCBs were more commonly found in oyster tissues than in clam tissues. The reasons for the different accumulation pattern of organic pollutants in the two organisms are discussed.