Phototoxicity of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum to marine invertebrate larvae and juveniles

Abstract

Abstract-Phototoxicity resulting from photoactivated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been reported in the literature for a variety of freshwater organisms. The magnitude of increase in PAH toxicity often exceeds a factor of 100. In the marine environment phototoxicity to marine organisms has not been reported for individual or complex mixtures of PAHs. In this study, larvae and juveniles of the bivalve, Mulinia lateralis, and juveniles of the mysid shrimp, Mysidopsis bahia, were exposed to individual known phototoxic PAHs (anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene), as well as the water-accommodated fractions of several petroleum products (Fuel Oil #2, Arabian Light Crude, Prudhoe Bay Crude, Fuel Oil #6) containing PAHs. Phototoxicity of individual PAHs was 12 to Ͼ50,000 times that of conventional toxicity. Three of the petroleum products demonstrated phototoxicity while the lightest product, Fuel Oil #2, was not phototoxic at the concentrations tested. The phototoxicity of petroleum products appears to be dependent on the composition and concentrations of phototoxic PAHs present: lighter oils have fewer multiple aromatic ring, phototoxic compounds while heavier oils have higher levels of these types of molecules. This study shows that phototoxicity can occur in marine waters to marine species. Further, the occurrence of oil in marine waters presents the additional risk of phototoxicity not routinely assessed for during oil spills.

Photoirradiation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons with UVA Light – A Pathway Leading to the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species, Lipid Peroxidation, and DNA Damage

“…The phototoxicity can be more than 100-fold higher than their toxicity in the absence of light irradiation [52,53]. Yan et al [54] …”

“…It has also been reported that upon light irradiation, PAHs exhibit phototoxicity [17]. Thus, photoirradiation of PAHs can be an activation pathway and may play an important role on skin cancer [23][24][25][26]. However, this pathway has received much less attention.…”

Effects of pyrene exposure on immune response and oxidative stress in the pearl oyster, Pinctada martensii

“…For example, one previous study Fern andez-Tajes et al [19] showed a higher sensitivity of clams and cockles to pollution load levels. Additionally, results from Pelletier et al [60] indicated that the glochidial larvae of Utterbackia imbecillis are sensitive to photoactivated pyrene at environmentally [29]. Increases in total GSH concentrations reflect an up-regulation of antioxidant defenses [36].…”

UVA Light-Induced DNA Cleavage by Selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

“…There have been studies on the photo-induced toxicity of PAH mixtures or individuals in the marine sediment toward micro-organisms and plants in the aquatic systems (Pelletier et al 1997;Swartz et al 1997).…”

“…The increase in toxicity due to ssr can exceed 100 times (Swartz et al, 1997). It is suggested that PAHs act as photosensitizers (Pelletier et al 1997). After absorbing UV light energy, PAHs in the excited-state may transfer its energy to molecular oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species that can cause a variety of damages to the cell.…”