Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible tissue of fish from the Gulf after the 1991 oil spill

Abstract

Concentrations of 10 PAHs were determined in the edible parts of fish collected during April 1992 on Leg IV of the NOAA-R/V Mt. Mitchell scientific cruise from four locations along the western side of the Gulf. The average total amount of PAHs was 105.3 μg kg −1 dry wt, with a range 2.51–563.6 μg kg −1 dry wt. The average concentrations of PAHs in fish from stations E (north Abu Ali), F (south Abu Ali), G (Rennie Shoals) and I (Qatar) were 165.9, 91.7, 55.8 and 108.6 μg kg −1 respectively. The slightly elevated average concentration of total PAHs in samples from station E shows that north Abu Ali was the most oil impacted area. Pyrene and phenanthrene were detected most frequently (in 75% of the fish) whereas chrysene and benz(a)anthracene had the lowest frequency of detection (in 5% of the fish). Based on qualitative classification of PAH carcinogenicity, detected PAHs classified as having sufficient or limited evidence for carcinogenicity [benz(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene and chrysene] were lower in concentration and frequency of detection than those classified as having insufficient or no evidence for carcinogenicity (fluoranthene, anthracene, phenanthracene and pyrene).