Accumulation and dissipation of organosulfur compounds in short-necked clam and eel.

Abstract

The transfer of organosulfur compounds to short-necked clam and eel, and their elimination from contaminated biota after being transferred and reared in clean sea water have been reported. Furthermore, the compounds transferred to fish or shellfish from crude oil suspension have been identified by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer attached with computer system. Thereafter, the organosulfur compounds found in marine biota have been presumed as indices of contamination by petroleum or crude oil. In the present report, the experiment was designed to examine the tendencies of accumulation and elimination of several organosulfur compounds in marine biota kept in oil contaminated water or in clean sea water after the contamination. The obtained data were analyzed by curve fit method, the concentration ratio versus rearing time, concentration factor and half-life of each identified organosulfur compound was calculated.