Unresolved complex mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons in the marine environment : toxicity, solubility and photodegradation studies
type: CreativeWork
description: Unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) of aromatic hydrocarbons have been found in a wide range of environmental matrices at high concentrations. However, limited consideration has been given to the potential detrimental effects of the accumulation of these compounds in the marine environment. In particular, there is a need to evaluate these compounds in the light of recent evidence that points to the long term effects of oil in the marine environment. The overall aim of this work was therefore to investigate unresolved complex mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons in the marine environment with particular emphasis on assessment of toxicity, aqueous solubility and photodegradation behaviour. A previously established link between the reduced Scope for Growth (SFG) of mussels with the concentration of 2-3 ringed aromatic hydrocarbons in mussels from petroleum impacted sites was found also to correlate well with concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbon UCMs in mussel tissues found at the same sites. This suggests that aromatic hydrocarbon UCMs or components within may be responsible for the observed effects. To determine whether an aromatic hydrocarbon UCM was capable of eliciting a toxic response in mussels, a monoaromatic UCM was isolated from a Gullfaks (North Sea) produced crude oil. At the highest nominal aqueous concentration tested, mussel feeding rate was reduced by -40 % in the 24 hour exposure period, during which the mussels accumulated a body burden similar to the body burden of monoaromatic UCM hydrocarbons in wild mussel populations, previously shown to exhibit reduced SFG. Recent studies of hydrocarbon UCM composition using chemical degradation methods have led to the proposition of alkylcyclohexyltetralins as `average' structures for some monoaromatic UCM hydrocarbons. The aromatic hydrocarbon 7-cyclohexyl-lmethyltetralin was synthesised herein in good yield and purity. This compound reduced mussel feeding rate by 50% during the 24-hour exposure period. The aqueo…
abstract: Unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) of aromatic hydrocarbons have been found in a wide range of environmental matrices at high concentrations. However, limited consideration has been given to the potential detrimental effects of the accumulation of these compounds in the marine environment. In particular, there is a need to evaluate these compounds in the light of recent evidence that points to the long term effects of oil in the marine environment. The overall aim of this work was therefore to investigate unresolved complex mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons in the marine environment with particular emphasis on assessment of toxicity, aqueous solubility and photodegradation behaviour. A previously established link between the reduced Scope for Growth (SFG) of mussels with the concentration of 2-3 ringed aromatic hydrocarbons in mussels from petroleum impacted sites was found also to correlate well with concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbon UCMs in mussel tissues found at the same sites. This suggests that aromatic hydrocarbon UCMs or components within may be responsible for the observed effects. To determine whether an aromatic hydrocarbon UCM was capable of eliciting a toxic response in mussels, a monoaromatic UCM was isolated from a Gullfaks (North Sea) produced crude oil. At the highest nominal aqueous concentration tested, mussel feeding rate was reduced by -40 % in the 24 hour exposure period, during which the mussels accumulated a body burden similar to the body burden of monoaromatic UCM hydrocarbons in wild mussel populations, previously shown to exhibit reduced SFG. Recent studies of hydrocarbon UCM composition using chemical degradation methods have led to the proposition of alkylcyclohexyltetralins as `average' structures for some monoaromatic UCM hydrocarbons. The aromatic hydrocarbon 7-cyclohexyl-lmethyltetralin was synthesised herein in good yield and purity. This compound reduced mussel feeding rate by 50% during the 24-hour exposure period. The aqueo…
author: Smith, Emma Louise
language: eng
date published: 2002-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:48:35Z
provider: University of Plymouth
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Plymouth