HPLC analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAHs) in Mussels(Mytilus edulis) living in the Intertidal Zone of Kori, Korea

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in coastal marine environment. PAHs enter estuarine and nearshore marine environment via several routes such as combustion of fossil fuels, domestic and industrial effluents and oil spills. In August of 1997, mussels(Mytilus edulis) were collected at 6 sites near Kori nuclear power plant in order to analyze the PAH content by HPLC with uv/vis detection. Unfortunately, I could not find any living oysters in which I firstly intended to measure the PAH content in the study area. NPTHL and ANCPL were the major dominant PAH compounds in mussels living in the intertidal zone of Kori, Korea, and DahA, BbF, BaP were the next dominant PAH group in mussels in the study area. The mean concentrations of 15 PAH in mussels ranged from 3.2 to 1,680 ppb(mean 105<TEX>$\pm$</TEX>60.5 ppb). Compared with other studies world over, the concentrations of carcinogenic PAHs were relatively low in mussels in the study area, even though total PAH content was rather high. According to N/P(Naphthalene/Phenanthrene) ratio(147) and the ratio of 2∼3 ring to 3∼5 ring PAHs(58∼90 %) in mussels in the study area, I expect that the major source of PAHs in this study area is rather fresh petroleum-derived. This study presents preliminary data for the PAH levels in mussels from the intertidal zone of Kori, and the data will hopefully be utilized for the assessment of oil pollution in the East Sea, Korea.