Disappearance of aromatic hydrocarbons and organic sulfur compounds from fish flesh reared in crude oil suspension

Abstract

Eels ( Anguilla Japonica Temminck et Schlegel) were reared in sea water containing a crude oil suspension (50 ppm for 10 days for aromatic hydrocarbons, 2500 ppm for 3 days for organic sulfur compounds), then transferred to clean sea water. The disappearance of aromatic hydrocarbons and organic sulfur compounds from eel flesh was examined. The concentration ratio (concentration of eel flesh/concentration of water) of benzene, toluene, m- or p-xylene and o-xylene at 10 days was 3.5, 13.2, 23.6 and 21.4 respectively. Benzene, toluene, m- or p-xylene and o-xylene disappeared after the transfer to clean sea water, and the half-life period was 0.5, 1.4, 2.6 and 2.0 days respectively in the first phase which lasted 0–5 days. Organic sulfur compounds in cel flesh decreased as the time spent in clean sea water increased, but were still present after 30 days. The results suggest that aromatic hydrocarbons and organic sulfur compounds could serve as markers of oil pollution in fish.