Levels and trends of PCBs, chlorinated pesticides and petroleum hydrocarbons in mussels from the NW Mediterranean coast: comparison of concentrations in 1973/1974 and 1988/1989

Abstract

A mussel watch survey was conducted in 1988-1989 along the Mediterranean coast of France and Italy, between Sete and Genoa, in order to assess contamination by organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and petroleum hydrocarbons. Results show concentrations of DDTs (average 130 ng g-1 dry wt.) and PCBs (average 527 ng g-1 dry wt.) higher in coastal areas receiving river discharges and close to large cities. Concentrations of total aliphatics (average 470 micrograms g-1 dry wt.) and PAHs (average 233 micrograms g-1 dry wt.) were generally higher also near large harbours, namely Marseille, Toulon and Genoa. PAHs in mussel samples from Genoa and Monaco were mostly of pyrolytic sources, likely forest fires and exhaust gases from cars, whereas PAHs in other stations were mainly of petrogenic sources. Comparison of chlorinated hydrocarbon concentrations measured in 1988-1989 with those measured in a similar survey carried out at the same sites in 1973-1974, shows that DDTs and PCBs decreased by a factor of approximately 5 in 15 years. This decrease is in agreement with the ban on DDT implemented in 1975 in western Europe and gradual cessation of PCBs production in the 1970s and 1980s. Nevertheless, the residues of these compounds measured in mussels confirm the well-known long persistence of DDTs and PCBs, which are still present in relatively high concentrations in a few areas.