Accumulation and depuration of petroleum hydrocarbons by black mussels. 1. Laboratory exposure trials

Laboratory experiments were conducted to measure the rates of accumulation and subsequent depuration of hydrocarbons by black mussels after exposure to various concentrations of water-soluble fractions of crude oil. The initial rate of uptake was related to the concentration in the water, but a maximum level of accumulation was found after long-term exposure. The rate of depuration was closely related to the time of exposure prior to depuration. The depuration profile consists of an initial rapid loss followed by a slower loss of the remaining hydrocarbons. Increased exposure time decreases the relative quantity of hydrocarbons lost in the initial rapid depuration. The results indicate that the use of mussels as petroleum hydrocarbon input "monitors" might have limitations.