Abstract
Bioaccumulation is essential for gaining insight into the impact of exposure to organic micropollutants in aquatic fauna. Data are currently available on the bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants, but there is very little documentation on the bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The bioconcentration of selected PPCPs was studied in marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The selected PPCPs were two organic UV filters, i.e., 2-ethylhexyl-4-trimethoxycinnamate (EHMC) and octocrylene (OC), and two benzodiazepines (BZP), i.e., diazepam (DZP) and tetrazepam (TZP). Laboratory experiments were performed in which M. galloprovincialis was exposed to these compounds either directly from water, for the less lipophilic substances (BZP) or via spiked food for lipophilic UV filters. M. galloprovincialis uptook and eliminated BZP following first-order kinetics. The biological half-life (t (1/2)) of TZP was 1.4 days, resulting in a bioconcentration factor of 64 and 99 mL g(-1) dry weight (dw), respectively, for 2.3 and 14.5 μg L(-1) of exposure, while the biological half-life (t (1/2)) of DZP was 0.4 days, resulting in a bioconcentration factor of 51 mL g(-1) dw for 13.2 μg L(-1) of exposure. The uptake of UV filter was rapid in mussels, followed by elimination within 24 h. EHMC increased from 15 to 138 ng g(-1) dw in 1 h and decreased to 25 ng g(-1) after 24 h for 11.9 μg L(-1) exposure. OC reached 839 ng g(-1) dw after 1 h and decreased to 33 ng g(-1) after 24 h for 11.6 μg L(-1) exposure. However, EHMC and OC were slightly accumulated in 48 h, i.e., 38 and 60 ng g(-1) dw, respectively.